Shrubs or small trees, to 6(-15) m tall. Branches with glossy white epidermis peeling off with age, lateral spines usually branched, very many. Leaves alternate; leaf blade usually silvery on both surfaces, adaxially sometimes green, linear, 1.5-4.5 × 0.2-0.5 cm, rust-colored hairs absent, base cuneate, apex subobtuse. Peduncle 3-4(-7) mm. Fruit red or yellow, subglobose to broadly ellipsoid or obovoid, 5-7(-9) × 3-5 mm when dried. Seed usually somewhat flattened, 2.8-4.2 mm.

River terraces, dry river beds, occasionally on moraines or open mountain slopes; 600-4200 m. Xinjiang, N Xizang [Afghanistan, India, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan].