Herbs perennial. Stems branched at base, 4--10 cm; underground part white, with small, white scales; aerial part violet, pubescent and violet glandular villous, with axillary, sterile branches. Leaves sessile, lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, 0.5--1.5 cm × 1--2 mm, thick, glabrous except sparsely glandular pubescent abaxially and at margin, 1-veined or vein inconspicuous, base cuneate, apex obtuse. Flower solitary, terminal. Sepals 5, green or violet, orbicular, 5--8 × 1--2 mm, 3-veined, base saccate, margin broadly membranous, apex obtuse. Petals 5, violet or white, broadly obovate, ca. 1.5 cm × 6--7 mm, base attenuate, apex emarginate. Stamens 10; filaments equaling sepals. Styles 2. Fl. Jul--Aug.