Shrubs erect, 1-2 m tall. Old branches red-brown or purple-brown; branches of current year red-brown. Leaves linear-lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate, or oblong, 1.5-3 × 0.5-1 mm, base slightly enlarged, margin narrowly membranous, apex obtuse or acute. Racemes lateral or terminal, lax; bracts usually purple, or only so in lower part, greenish in upper part, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 3-4 × ca. 1 mm, margin narrowly membranous, apex acuminate. Flowers small, less than 5 mm. Pedicels 1-2 mm. Sepals lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm, less than 1/2 as long as petals, margin narrowly membranous. Petals purplish, narrowly obovate or narrowly elliptic, 3-4.5 × 1-2 mm, apex incurved. Stamens shorter than petals; filaments ca. 2/3 united. Ovary conic, 2.5-5 mm, apex attenuate; stigmas capitate, 3-lobed. Capsule conic, 9-11 mm. Seeds oblong, ca. 1.5 mm, awned; awns white villous throughout. Fl. and fr. May-Aug.

Sandy places at riversides; 3000-4000 m. SE Xizang [Nepal].