Plants gray-green, 10-25 cm tall, densely pubescent. Stem much branched; branches ribbed. Leaves subhorizontally spreading, linear, straight or slightly curved, semiterete, 2-5 cm × 1.5-2 mm, abaxially convex, adaxially plane or sulcate near base, base expanded, decurrent, apex yellow-brown, subulate, shortly spinose mucronate. Bractlets shorter than bracts, but both distinctly longer than perianth, abaxially longitudinally keeled. Perianth tube hooded campanulate, basal surface plane or slightly concave, with 5 radial ribs; segments 5, lanceolate, membranous, abaxially villous, apex acuminate. Stamens 5; anthers basally free, narrowly oblong, 1.5-2 mm; appendage subsessile, broadly ovate, subequaling or broader than anther. Style terete; stigmas distinctly shorter than style, apex inflated. Utricle light yellow, broadly ovoid, 2.5-3 mm in diam. Fl. and fr. Jun-Aug.

Dunes, sandy areas on lake shores. N Xinjiang [Kazakhstan].