Hutchinsia tibetica Thomson, Icon. Pl. 9: t. 900. 1852; Capsella thomsonii J. D. Hooker; Hedinia elata C. L. He & Z. X. An; H. rotundata Z. X. An; H. taxkargannica G. L. Zhou & Z. X. An; H. taxkargannica var. hejigensis G. L. Zhou & Z. X. An; H. tibetica (Thomson) Ostenfeld; Smelowskia tibetica (Thomson) Lipsky.

Herbs (1–)5–30(–45) cm tall, densely to sparsely pubescent, canescent or green. Stems procumbent or ascending, densely hirsute basally with primarily simple trichomes to 1.3 mm. Basal leaves sparsely to densely pubescent; petiole (0.2–) 0.5–2(–3.5) cm, often ciliate basally; leaf blade ovate or narrowly oblong in outline, 1- or 2-pinnatisect, (0.3–)1–4(–7) × (0.2–)0.7–2(–2.5) cm; ultimate lobes ovate or oblong-linear, 1–12 × 0.5–3 mm. Cauline leaves similar to basal, reduced in size and divisions toward stem apex. Racemes bracteate throughout or rarely only basally; distal bracts subsessile, sometimes adnate to pedicel. Fruiting pedicel, straight, erect or ascending, 1.5–3.5(–5) mm, pubescent, subappressed to rachis. Sepals oblong, 1.3–2 × 0.7–0.9 mm, sparsely pubescent. Petals obovate, 2–3.2 × (0.6–)0.9–1.4 mm; claw ca. 1.5 mm. Filaments 1.5–2 mm; anthers 0.3–0.4 mm. Ovules 20–46 per ovary. Fruit broadly oblong, rarely oblong-linear or suborbicular, (4.5–)5–10(–14) × 3–5 mm, flat or slightly twisted, obtuse, slightly retuse, or rarely subacute at both ends, appressed to rachis; valves glabrous or pubescent; style 0.3–0.8 mm, glabrous or rarely pubescent. Seeds light to dark brown, oblong, 0.8–1.1 × 0.4–0.6 mm. Fl. Jun–Aug, fr. Jul–Sep.

Sandstone gravel, alpine meadows, steppe, scree, sandy slopes; 3900–5200 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang [Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sikkim, Tajikistan].

Change in Ihsan Al-Shehbaz's treatment of this taxon occurred after publication of the family treatment for the Flora of China.