Subshrubs aromatic. Roots woody. Stems numerous, obliquely ascending to suberect, 12-30 cm, base woody, branched, densely retrorse pubescent especially at apex. Petiole pubescent; leaves narrowly lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, rarely ovate, 5-15 × 1.5-6 mm, subglabrous or pubescent, conspicuously glandular, base cuneate to attenuate, margin entire, apex acute to slightly obtuse. Verticillasters crowded in globose or semiglobose terminal capitula; floral leaves reduced, mostly ascending or horizontal. Pedicel 1-3 mm. Calyx tubular, 5(-7) mm, obscurely glandular; teeth subequal, acute. Corolla rose, ca. 8 mm, tube pubescent, lateral lobes circular. Fertile stamens 2, posterior stamens short or absent. Fl. Aug-Sep.

Gravelly hillsides, semidesert areas, sandy beaches; 700-1100 m. Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan].