Myricaria germanica (Linnaeus) Desvaux var. prostrata Dyer; M. hedinii Paulsen.

Shrubs prostrate, dwarf, 5-14 cm tall. Branches of previous year red-brown, slender, often rooting. Leaves clustered in branches of current year, oblong, narrowly elliptic, or ovate, 2-5 × 1-1.5 mm, margin narrowly membranous, apex obtuse. Racemes globose, lateral on branches of previous year, dense, often consisting of 1-3, rarely 4 flowers. Pedicels very short, 1-2 mm, with ovate or oblong imbricate scales at base; bracts ovate or elliptic, 3-5 × 1.5-3 mm, longer than pedicels, margin narrowly membranous, apex obtuse. Sepals ovate-lanceolate or oblong, 3-4 × 1-2 mm, margin narrowly membranous, apex obtuse. Petals purplish to pink, obovate or obovate-oblong, 4-6 × 2-4 mm; filaments ca. 2/3 united, rarely nearly free and united only at base. Ovary ovoid; stigmas capitate, sessile. Capsule conic, 8-10 mm. Seeds oblong, ca. 1.5 mm, apex awned; awns stout, white villous throughout. Fl. and fr. Jun-Aug.

Sandy places in river valleys in high mountains, sandy places at lakesides, rocky mountain slopes, streamsides; 4000-5200 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Xizang [India, Pakistan; C Asia].