Herbs perennial, densely cespitose, with many dwarf shoots densely covered by dense remains of old leaves. Leaves sessile, grayish green, linear to linear-lanceolate, 7--30(--50) X 1--2 mm, cartilaginous, tapering to base, glabrous except for ciliate margin when young, erect, apex acute. Scapes to 1 cm, usually hidden in leaves, densely villous; umbels 4--7(--10)-flowered; bracts linear-lanceolate, 3--6 mm, glabrescent. Pedicel 4--10 mm, villous. Calyx 3.5--4.5 mm, sparsely short pubescent and minutely glandular or glabrescent, parted to middle; lobes triangular, ciliate, apex acute. Corolla white, 5--6 mm in diam.; lobes obovate-elliptic, apex slightly emarginate. Fl. May.

Dry gravelly slopes; 1300--1500 m. Heilongjiang, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shaanxi [Mongolia].