Climacoptera affinis (C. A. Meyer) Botschantzev; C. roborowskii (Iljin) Grubov; Salsola roborowskii Iljin.

Herbs annual, 10-30 cm tall. Stem branched from base; branches alternate or lower ones subopposite, ascending or decumbent, white, densely pilose. Leaves semiterete, alternate, 1-2.5 cm × 2-3 mm, densely pubescent, base slightly expanded, not decurrent, apex obtuse; lower leaves subopposite, usually curved. Inflorescence terminal, spikelike; bracts broadly ovate, shorter than bractlets, margin membranous, apex obtuse; bractlets ovate, shorter than perianth. Perianth (including wings) 5-10 mm in diam. in fruit; segments lanceolate, membranous, abaxially winged from proximal middle part, glabrous or sparsely villous; portion of segment above wing connivent with others into a cone, lanceolate, membranous, apex acute; 3 wings purple-red or dark brown, reniform; 2 other wings obovate, smaller. Anther appendage white, elliptic. Stigmas subequaling or slightly longer than style. Seed horizontal or sometimes vertical. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.

Deserts, hills, dry clayey soils. Xinjiang [C Asia, SE Europe (Lower Volga region of Russia)].