Herbs perennial, ca. 10(--25) cm tall. Stems cespitose, to more than 10, central stem ± erect, outer stems strongly procumbent to ascending, with 4 lines or hairs. Basal leaf petiole 2--5 cm. Stem leaves in whorls of 4, short petiolate; leaf blade linear-lanceolate, smaller than basal leaves, to 3 X 1 cm, pinnatisect; segments 10--18 pairs, widely spaced, lanceolate to linear, lobed or dentate, teeth callose. Inflorescences often densely spicate, to 6 cm. Calyx oblong-campanulate, 8--9 mm, 1/3 cleft anteriorly, densely pilose along veins; lobes 5, unequal, posterior one triangular, entire, lateral lobes larger, serrate. Corolla red to white; tube ca. 1.2 cm; galea ± falcate or erect, 8--9 mm, rounded in front, distinctly serrate crested; beak short, apex truncate, less than 1 mm wide. Filaments glabrous. Capsule ovoid-lanceolate, ca. 1.4 cm X 5 mm, apiculate. Fl. and fr. Jun--Oct.

Swampy alpine Kobresia meadows, boggy places along rivers and streams, grassy areas, grass of parks and gardens; 3600--5400 m. S and SE Xizang [Nepal, Sikkim].