Herbs annual, 10–30 cm tall. Stem branched from base, densely hispid; branches alternate, horizontally spreading, lowest ones subopposite. Leaves yellow-green, filiform, semiterete, 1–1.5 cm × 0.5–1 mm, hispid, base slightly expanded, apex spinose mucronate. Inflorescence spikelike, or sometimes flowers borne throughout plant; bracts lanceolate, longer than bractlets. Perianth segments narrowly ovate, membranous, hardened and leathery in fruit, only 1 segment abaxially winged, others with a toothlike process, all glabrous; portion of segment above wing or process connivent with others and forming a plane surface, apex acute. Stamens longer than perianth; anthers ca. 0.3 mm; appendage very small. Style very short; stigmas filiform, 4–6 × as long as style. Seed horizontal, ca. 1 mm in diam. Fl. Jul–Aug, fr. Aug–Sep.

Riversides, sandy slopes. Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Xizang [Mongolia, Russia (Altay)].