Herbs perennial, to 20 cm tall, drying slightly black. Roots ± fleshy. Stems few, usually cespitose, central stem erect, outer stems ascending, with 4 lines of hairs. Leaves in whorls of 4. Basal leaves densely cespitose, persistent; petiole to 3 cm, slender, sparsely pubescent; leaf blade linear-oblong, to 3.5 cm X 6--12 mm, abaxially pubescent, adaxially glabrous, pinnatisect; midvein winged; segments 9--12 pairs, ovate, pinnatifid, incised-dentate. Stem leaves in 1 whorl, similar to basal leaves but shorter petiolate. Inflorescences to 9 cm in fruit; proximal bracts leaflike, lanceolate, distal ones shorter than flowers. Pedicel to 4 mm in fruit. Calyx barely 6 mm, 1/2 cleft anteriorly, long whitish pubescent; lobes 5, slightly unequal, triangular, ± entire. Corolla 1.3--1.4 cm; tube decurved through anterior slit of calyx; galea slightly curved midway, 7--7.5 mm, slightly narrow crested; lower lip ca. 1 X 1.05 cm, middle lobe ovate, long stiped. Filaments glabrous; anthers apiculate. Capsule triangular-lanceolate, ca. 2 cm. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep.

* Moist slopes, river banks; 3600--3900 m. SE Xizang.