Herbs annual, 20-60 cm tall. Stem erect, much branched, green; branches white-striate, stout, densely hispid. Leaves semiterete, 1.5-2.5 cm × 1.5-2 mm, apex spinose mucronate. Inflorescence spikelike; bracts longer than bractlets. Perianth (including wings) 7-12 mm in diam. in fruit; segments hardened in fruit, abaxially winged from proximal middle part, glabrous or rough; portion of segment above wing connivent with others into a long, thin cone, apex subrigidly spinose mucronate or thinly membranous mucronate; 3 wings semiorbicular; 2 other wings narrower. Stigmas filiform, longer than style. Seed horizontal. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep.

Most authors regard Salsola pellucida as a synonym of S. paulsenii s.str.

Gobi desert, ravines, riversides. Gansu, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang [C Asia, SW Asia (E Caucasus)].