Caespitose perennial herb with decumbent branches, the erect portions 10-25(-45) cm long; plants glandular pubescent along elevated lines running down from the margins of the petioles below, more densely and uniformly so above, and with an admixture of strigulose pubescence in the inflorescence. Leaves mostly opposite, alternate in the inflorescence, subcoriaceous, nerves ± visible in dried material, broadly elliptic to ovate, acute or obtuse at apex and base, entire or with a few teeth on the margins, 0.5-1.3 by 0.3-0.9 cm; petiole 1-3 mm, short but distinct. Flowers nodding, the ovaries erect, borne in the axils of upper leaves. Floral tube 1.4-2 mm across, 1—1.2 mm deep. Sepals 3-4 by 1-1.6 mm. Petals 6-8.5 by 2.5-4.5 mm, pink to purplish rose, the notch c. 1.5 mm deep. Anthers 0.7-1 mm long; filaments of the longer stamens 3-6 mm, those of the shorter 2-4 mm. Style 2.5-6 mm. Stigma clavate, 2-2.5 mm long, 1-1.2 mm thick, surrounded by the anthers at anthesis. Capsule erect, glabrescent, 5-8 cm long, on a pedicel 4-12 cm. Seeds 1-1.4 by 0.3-0.45 mm, finely papillose, brown; coma 5-8 mm long, white. Gametic chromosome number, n = 18.
Subalpine and alpine meadows, fire-induced alpine grassland, near boulders, in alpine shrubbery, on peaty grassland, near waterfalls, in secondary forest on limestone cliffs, on stream-bank gravel, stony creek beds, along forest tracks, between grass tussocks in old lake basin, in pendent masses on rocks, occasionally in moist, forested areas; 2000-4150 m. Fl. May-Nov. (-Jan.).
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