Herbs perennial, laxly cespitose. Shoots dark reddish brown, initially pilose, becoming glabrous, internodes 0.5--2.5 cm. Leaf rosettes 1--2 cm in diam., with remains of dead leaves at base. Leaves trimorphic. Outer leaves brown, linear-oblong, 4--5 X ca. 1.5 mm, white sericeous. Medial leaves sessile, green, spatulate or linear-oblanceolate, 4--7.5 X 0.8--1.5 mm, densely white sericeous except for narrowed membranous base, hairs 1.5--2.5 mm, apex obtuse. Petiole of inner leaves slightly longer than leaf blade; leaf blade elliptic to ovate-elliptic, 7--15 X 2--4 mm, short hirsute, base attenuate, apex obtuse. Leaves on sterile shoots ovate, 4--5 mm, pubescent. Scapes 2--6 cm, spreading pubescent; umbels 2--5-flowered; bracts linear, 2--3.5 mm, pilose. Pedicels ca. as long as bracts at anthesis, elongating to 9 mm in fruit, pilose. Calyx ca. 3 mm, densely pilose, parted to middle; lobes narrowly ovate, apex subobtuse. Corolla purple, 6--9 mm in diam.; tube 2.5--2.8 mm; lobes broadly obovate, margin entire or obscurely denticulate at apex. Fl. Jun.

Stony mountain slopes; 4100--4500 m. S Xizang (Nyalam Xian) [Nepal].