Plant 20-50 cm. Taproot and short rhizome thickened, tuber-like. Stem unbranched, densely leafy. Leaves sessile, linear-lanceolate, sparsely toothed. Inflorescence terminal, hemispherical, of densely crowded small yellow flowers. Specimens with staminate flowers are much more ornamental than specimens with pistillate flowers. V - early spring to early autumn in St. Petersburg April-September. Fl - May. Fr - June-July. P - by seed and division of the stout, underground rootstock. Does well in full sun and in partial shade. Well suited to the rock garden. Z 4 (3).

Central Asia (Narynskiy Range, Terskeiy Alatau, Alayskiy Range), northern China and Tibet. On rocky slopes, in cracks, on gravelly soil.