Umbilicus alpestris Karelin & Kirilov, Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 15: 354. 1842; Rhodiola durisii (Raymond-Hamet) S. H. Fu; Sedum durisii Raymond-Hamet; S. olgae Regel & Schmalhausen ex Regel; S. schlagintweitii Fröderström; S. umbilicoides Regel; Sempervivella acuminata (Decaisne) A. Berger; Sempervivum acuminatum Decaisne.

Rootstock to 1.5 cm thick. Rosette 1.5-3 cm in diam.; rosette leaves oblong-lanceolate to oblong, (9-)15-25(-30) × (2-)3-6 mm, glabrous or very sparsely glandular, apex acuminate. Flowering stem axillary from rosette leaves, erect or ascending, 5-12(-15) cm, leafy, glabrous; stem sessile, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, leaves flat, 5-10 × 2-2.5 mm, adaxially glabrous, margin hispidulous-ciliate distally, apex acuminate. Inflorescences cymose-corymbiform, 2-12(-20)-flowered, glabrous; bracts small, ovate-lanceolate. Flowers 6-8-merous; pedicel shorter than corolla on proximal flowers but elongating on distal ones. Sepals lanceolate, ca. 1/2 as long as corolla, glabrous, veins 3, apex acute to acuminate. Corolla white, or reddish with purple or red abaxial keel, 6-9 mm; lobes basally connate, oblong-lanceolate, veins 3, apex reflexed and acute. Stamens 12-16, shorter than corolla. Nectar scales suborbicular. Follicles 2.5-3.5 mm, apex beaked; beak filiform. Seeds numerous, ovoid. Fl. Jun-Jul.

Scrub-covered slopes, rock crevices; 1500-5000 m. Xinjiang, Xizang [Russia].