Herbs perennial, 30-60 cm. Stems erect, woody at base, branched above, appressed or spreading hispid, hairs discoid at base. Lower stem leaves linear-lanceolate, 9-16 × 1-1.5 cm, abaxially densely white pilose, adaxially densely short appressed hirsute, hairs discoid at base, base attenuate, margin entire to repand, apex acuminate. Inflorescences terminal and lateral, becoming more contracted paniculate, with lan-ceolate bracts. Pedicel 1-1.5 mm, to 1 cm in fruit. Calyx 4-5 mm; lobes spreading, linear to linear-lanceolate, to 1.3 cm in fruit, strigose and hispid outside, hairs discoid at base, pilose inside. Corolla blue, base 3-5 mm wide; throat appendages trapeziform, ca. 0.5 mm; limb 3-6 mm wide; lobes orbicular. Stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube; filaments ca. 0.7 mm; anthers oblong, ca. 1 mm. Style ca. 1.5 × 0.5 mm. Nutlets ovoid to long ovoid, 5-6.5 mm, with dense glochids; abaxially slightly concave, ± keeled along center line; attachment scar at apex adaxially, rhomboid-ovate. Fl. Jul.

* Hillside meadows, in tussocks at forest margins, fields, roadsides; 1600-2900 m. C and SE Gansu, E Qinghai, S Ningxia, N Sichuan.