Perennials, 15-20 cm tall. Stems persistent underground, to 1 cm in diam., present year's growth branched at base. Leaves alternate; leaf blade linear-elliptic, 1.5-3 cm X 3-5 mm, base and apex acute; veins 3, inconspicuous. Inflorescences spicate, to 7 cm at anthesis, to 10-flowered; bracts ovate-lanceolate, longer than pedicel. Pedicel ca. 2 mm at anthesis. Calyx pubescent with granular-glandular hairs; lobes narrowly oblong, ca. 3 X 1-1.5 mm, apex obtuse. Corolla purple-red, to 1.4 cm (excluding spur); spur 7-8 mm, tip slightly curved; lower lip ca. 2 mm, shorter than upper, lateral lobes shorter and to 3 mm wide, middle lobe slightly narrower, lobe apices obtuse; upper lip with a deep notch ca. 1.8 mm, lobes ca. 3 mm wide in middle. Fl. May-Jun.

Gravelly slopes; ca. 2800 m. SW Xinjiang (Wuqia Xian) [Tajikistan].