Herbs annual, 20-30 cm tall. Stem erect, green striate, subglabrous; lower branches opposite, elongate, obliquely spreading. Leaves shortly petiolate; leaf blade linear to narrowly oblong, 2-5 cm × 3-8 mm, both surfaces green and glabrous, base attenuate, apex acute. Flowers axillary, glomerulate, forming a loose, spikelike inflorescence on upper stem and branches. Fruiting bracts connate only near base, ovate-triangular to subcordate, 3-8 × 3-6 mm, without appendages, scarcely furfuraceous, base broadly cuneate to subtruncate, margins entire or sparsely serrulate, with 1-3 pairs of serrate teeth near base, apex acute or acuminate. Seed compressed, lenticular, 1.5-2.5 mm. Fl. and fr. Aug-Oct.

Moist meadows. Nei Mongol, N Xinjiang [Mongolia, Russia (SE European part, SE Siberia); C and SW Asia, SE Europe].