Caudex prostrate, slender, ca. 1 cm in diam.; persistent old flowering stems absent. Flowering stems 3-5, 17-40 cm. Stem leaves numerous, sessile, lanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, 1.2-3 × 0.2-0.3 cm, attenuate on both ends, margin apically 1-3-serrate. Inflorescences terminal, corymbiform, 1.5-2.5 cm in diam., bracteate. Flowers bisexual, rarely unisexual, unequally 5-merous. Sepals linear, 3-8 mm, apex obtuse. Petals reddish, greenish, green, or yellowish white, linear-oblanceolate or obovate-elliptic, 5-10 × ca. 2 mm, apex obtuse. Stamens 10, 0.8-1.2 cm. Nectar scales subspatulate-quadrangular or subquadrangular, apex slightly dilated, emarginate. Carpels erect, ovoid. Follicles lanceolate, 1-1.5 cm, base narrow. Seeds winged. Fl. Aug-Sep, fr. Oct.

Forests, rocks on slopes; 2500-3800 m. W Sichuan, SE Xizang, W Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim].