Herbs perennial, hirtellous. Rhizomes fleshy. Stems to 50--80 cm tall, rigid, hollow, unbranched, striate. Basal leaves withering early; stem leaves clasping, linear-oblong, 4--6 cm X 7.5--12.5 mm, base auriform; segments 15--25 pairs, ovate-oblong, incised-dentate. Inflorescences rigid, dense; bracts leaflike. Pedicel 2--3 mm. Calyx ca. 1.5 cm, pubescent, 5-lobed. Corolla purple; tube 1.6--1.8 cm; beak of galea ca. 5 mm, less than 3 mm wide, sparsely pubescent, apex 2-lobed; lower lip ciliate. Filaments glabrous. Capsule ovoid, ca. 1.6 cm, apiculate. Fl. Jul--Sep, fr. Aug--Sep. 2n = 16.

Among dwarf scrubs, steep banks below cliffs; 3700--4500 m. S Xizang [Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sikkim].