Subshrubs 20-50 cm tall. Stem much branched; woody branches gray-brown, longitudinally fissured; annual branches white below, green above, glabrous or papillate. Leaves alternate, semiterete, slightly incurved, 1-2.5 cm × 1.5-2.5 mm, glabrous or papillate, base expanded, slightly decurrent, above base constricted and appearing petiole-like, leaf often deciduous from this point, apex slightly inflated, obtuse or mucronate. Inflorescence spicate-paniculate; bracts leaflike; bractlets broadly triangular, abaxially fleshy and slightly keeled, margin membranous, apex acute. Perianth (including wings) 8-9 mm in diam. in fruit; segments narrowly ovate, hardened in fruit, winged from proximal middle part abaxially; portion of segment above wing connivent with others, forming an obtuse cone, apex obtuse; 3 wings semiorbicular, larger; other 2 wings oblong, smaller. Anther appendage apex obtuse. Style slightly stout; stigmas subulate, 2-3 × as long as style. Seed horizontal. Fl. Aug-Sep, fr. Sep-Oct.

* Arid slopes, rocky deserts. S Xinjiang.