Herbs perennial. Roots long, robust, woody. Stems in compact clusters, 6--20 cm, hirsutulous. Leaf blade linear-lanceolate, 3-veined, lateral veins close to margin; distal cauline leaf blade with base broadened, membranous, forming a short sheath, margin scarious, apex acute. Cymes dichasial, densely clustered, 6--9-flowered; rachis long. Pedicel sparsely glandular hairy. Sepals 5, erect, usually violet, lanceolate, membranous, glandular hairy, with 3 slender veins close together abaxially, margin broadly membranous, apex acuminate. Petals 5, white, obovate, 5--6 mm. Stamens 10; anthers yellow. Ovary obovoid. Styles 3. Capsule obovoid-globose, 3-valved; valves 2-cleft at apex. Fl. and fr. Jul--Aug.

* River valley grasslands; 300--4600(--5200) m. SE Xizang.