Type material of Aletris alpestris var. occidentalis described by Hara (J. Jap. Bot. 47: 276. 1972) from Nepal and Xizang, corresponds with A. nana.

Leaves numerous, densely tufted, linear, 1--3.5 cm × 1--4 mm. Scape somewhat stout, not wiry, straight and erect, 1.5--10 cm. Raceme 0.5--3.5 cm, densely or somewhat laxly 3--14-flowered, becoming lax in fruit; rachis pubescent or puberulent. Flowers distinctly pedicellate; pedicel 1--4 mm, pubescent or puberulent; bract and bracteole borne at or near apex of pedicel; bract lanceolate, 2--6 mm, equaling or exceeding flower, glabrous, apex acute. Perianth white or pinkish white, 3--4 mm, glabrous, not or scarcely papillose; tube broadly funnelform; lobes erect or slightly recurved, triangular-ovate to lanceolate, 1--1.5 × 0.7--1 mm, 0.3--0.45 × tube length, apex obtuse. Capsule subglobose, 2.5--3 mm, apex of valves ± abruptly narrowed; style ca. 0.4 mm; stigma not or only slightly thickened. Fl. May--Jun, fr. Aug--Sep.

Wet grassy meadows, swamps, damp rock crevices, in moss, among boulders; 3200--4600 m. S Xizang, NW Yunnan (Yulongxue Shan) [Nepal].