Shrublets, loosely pulvinate. Branches 3--5 mm. Leaf blade green to pale glaucous, similar in spring and summer, linear, 10--20 X 0.8--1(--1.5) mm, subcomplanate in cross section, glabrous, apex shortly awned. Inflorescences unbranched; peduncle 4.5--6 cm, densely pubescent; spikes usually subcapitate, with 2--4 spikelets; spikelets 2- or 3-flowered; bracts broadly ovate, 4--5 mm, densely pubescent, apex acute and mucronate; first bractlet 8--9 mm, apex obtuse, veins purple. Calyx 1--1.2 cm, tube densely velvety along ribs; limb white, ± velvety along veins, 10-lobed, veins dark purple and slightly projecting beyond apices. Corolla pink. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Jul-Sep.

Grassy tablelands; ca. 2200 m. Xinjiang (Kashi Diqu and Wuqia Diqu).