Plants 15-50 cm tall. Stem erect, green, terete, sparsely covered with stellate hairs, branched from base; lower branches ascending, upper ones obliquely spreading. Leaves linear, 2-4 cm × 2-3 mm, 1-veined, sparsely hairy, base attenuate, apex acuminate, mucronate. Spikelike inflorescence cylindric or clavate, crowded, usually 2-5 × 0.8-1 cm; bracts linear-lanceolate to ovate, 0.5-1 cm × 2-5 mm, usually 3-veined, base rounded, margin membranous, apex acute or acuminate, mucronate. Perianth segments usually 3, upper one broadly elliptic or ovate, apex rounded, irregularly denticulate, lower segments subtriangular, smaller, sometimes not developed. Stamens 3-5, exserted from perianth. Utricle brown punctate, broadly elliptic, 3.5-4 × 2.5-3 mm, glabrous, base usually cordate, apex rounded; wing 1/3-1/2 as wide as body, margin irregularly denticulate; beak short, thick, apex 1/4-1/3 as long as beak. Fl. and fr. Jul-Sep.

This species is closely related to Corispermum pallasii Steven, C. elongatum, and some other species of C. subsect. Pallasiana Mosyakin.

* Sandy places, dunes. Hebei, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Nei Mongol.