Shrubs small, 40-90 cm tall. Stem much branched; older branches black-brown or brown, slightly fissured; branchlets white, glabrous, sometimes papillate. Leaves alternate, fascicular on dwarf branches, yellow-green, semiterete, 1-2 cm × 1-2 mm, fleshy, base expanded and slightly thickened, not decurrent, above base constricted and appearing petiole-like, leaf deciduous from this point, apex obtuse or acute. Inflorescence spikelike; bracts leaflike, base decurrent; bractlets green, broadly ovate, abaxially fleshy, margin membranous, apex acute. Perianth (including wings) 8-11 mm in diam.; segments light green, narrowly ovate, abaxially slightly hardened and winged from proximal middle part, glabrous, margin membranous; portion of segment above wing connivent with others into a cone, apex obtuse; 3 wings reniform, larger; other 2 wings obovate or suborbicular, smaller. Anther appendage apex acute. Stigmas subulate, ca. 2 × as long as style. Seed horizontal. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.

Slopes, dunes, rocky deserts. N Xinjiang [Mongolia; C Asia].