Herbs perennial, to 35 cm tall, drying slightly black. Roots short, stout. Stems usually numerous and branched basally, unbranched apically, densely rust colored tomentose. Basal leaves withering early. Proximal stem leaves opposite, distal ones in whorls of 3 or 4, sometimes all opposite; petiole to 3 cm, strongly winged, tomentose; leaf blade lanceolate-oblong to ovate-oblong, 2.5--3 X 1--1.5 cm, glabrescent on both surfaces, pinnatipartite; segments 7--9 pairs, widely spaced, linear, serrulate. Inflorescences spicate, to more than 2 cm, usually interrupted basally; bracts leaflike, proximal ones longer than flowers. Calyx oblong, to 1.3 cm, membranous, deeply cleft anteriorly, densely pubescent, some only villous along veins; lobes 5, unequal, posterior one triangular and entire, lateral lobes triangular-lanceolate, entire to obscurely serrate. Corolla yellow, 2--2.5 cm; tube slightly bent apically, ca. as long as calyx; galea slightly bent apically, indistinctly crested; beak ± horizontal, 2--3 mm; lower lip ca. as long as or slightly longer than galea, middle lobe smaller than lateral pair. Anterior filament pair villous apically, posterior pair glabrous. Fl. Jun--Aug, fr. Sep.

* Dry rocky slopes in river valleys, rocky grassy slopes, among stones of valley beds, open hillsides, thickets; 3900--5100 m. Gansu, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xizang