Shrublets. Cushions 30--40(--100) cm wide. Current year's branches 5--15(--25) mm. Leaf blade glaucous, linear-needlelike to linear-subulate, 2.5--4 X 0.1--0.2 cm for summer leaves but in spring usually shorter, very shallowly obdeltate, rigid, glabrous, apex shortly awned. Inflorescences unbranched; peduncle 3--6 cm, ± densely pubescent; spike ca. 2 cm, with (1--)5--8 spikelets; spikelets 1-flowered; bracts glabrous, usually oblong-ovate, 5--6 mm, apex acuminate; first bractlet similar to bract, 7--8 mm, apex obtuse to acute. Calyx 1--1.2 cm; tube sparsely velvety between ribs; limb white, apically 5- or 10-lobed, veins purple and extending to apex of lobes, basally velvety along veins. Corolla light purple. Fl. Sep-Oct.

Rocky slopes of desert grasslands; 1300--2500 m. W Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, N Tajikistan, Uzbeckistan].