Statice congesta Ledebour, Fl. Altaic. 1: 437. 1829.

Herbs, perennial, 5--20 cm tall. Taproot slender. Caudex absent. Basal leaves many; petiole as long as blade; leaf blade oblong-ovate to lanceolate, (0.5--)1--4 X (0.3--)0.5--1 cm, base attenuate, apex rounded to short acute. Inflorescences 5--25; peduncle prostrate; stems branched at base, angulate, basal forks with 1 or 2 leaves; spikes dense, distichous, with 10--20 spikelets; spikelets 2--5-flowered; bracts to 2 mm, broadly obovate; first bractlet ca. 4 mm, broadly membranous at apex. Calyx funnelform, 3--4.5 mm; tube pubescent; limb white, rose, or rose-purple, lobes acute. Corolla pale yellow. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Jul-Aug.

Gravel slopes and sand dunes; 2300--2700 m. NW Xinjiang (Altay Shan) [Mongolia, Russia].