Plants 5-15 cm tall. Stem branched from base; branches prostrate or ascending. Leaves linear, 1-2.5 cm × ca. 1 mm, 1-veined, hairy, base attenuate, apex acute, mucronate. Spikelike inflorescence terete, slightly crowded, usually 3-5 cm; bracts linear-lanceolate to ovate, 0.5-1.5 cm × 1-2 mm, base rounded, margin distinctly membranous, apex acute or acuminate. Perianth segment 1, orbicular, apex irregularly lacerate. Stamens 1-3, exserted beyond perianth segment. Utricle brown with a few black spots, obovate-elliptic, 2-3 × 1.5-2 mm, glabrous, subglabrous, or densely covered with stellate hairs, base and apex rounded; wing same color as body, narrow, margin entire; beak thick, short, apex erect, ca. 1/3 as long as beak. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug.

Sandy field margins and lake shores; ca. 4400 m. Gansu, Xinjiang, Xizang [C Asia (Pamir mountains)].