Heterochroa desertorum Bunge, Verz. Altai Pfl. 29. 1836.

Herbs perennial, 5--15 cm tall, brown glandular pubescent. Roots brown, 0.5--1.5 cm in diam., woody. Stems densely caespitose, ascending, simple or distally sparsely branched, usually with dwarf, sterile, axillary shoots. Leaves pseudoverticillate, linear-subulate, 4--15 × 0.5--1 mm, rigid, midvein abaxially prominent, base connate, margin involute, apex apiculate. Inflorescence a dichasium; bracts lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 2--4 × 2--3 mm, apex apiculate. Pedicel 3--12 mm. Calyx campanulate, ca. 4 × 2--3 mm, lobed for ca. 1/2 its length; lobes ovate, ca. 1.5 mm, margin membranous, apex obtuse or acute. Petals white, lilac veined, obovate-cuneate, ca. 6 × 3 mm, base narrowed, apex retuse. Stamens slightly shorter than petals. Ovary ovoid, ca. 3 mm. Styles 2, ca. 2.5 mm. Capsule ovoid, ca. 4 mm. Seeds deep brown, reniform, ca. 1 mm, obtusely curved rugulose. Fl. May--Jul, fr. Aug.

Dry river valleys, sandy and desert steppes, gravelly places; 1400--1500 m. Nei Mongol, N Xinjiang [N Mongolia, Russia (Altay)].