Herbs, perennial, (5--)10--25 cm tall. Taproot stout, dark brown; bark unbroken. Caudex woody, thickened; stems many, compact from 1 crown, densely covered with white membranous scales and persistent petiole bases. Leaves basal, persistent to anthesis; petiole narrow; leaf blade oblong-spatulate, oblong-oblanceolate, or sometimes linear-lanceolate, 1--2.5 X (0.1--)0.2--0.6 cm including petiole, base attenuate, apex rounded to acuminate. Inflorescences usually numerous, arising from different leaf rosettes, corymbose; rachis 4--7 X dichotomously branched, flexuous, with most branches sterile; spikes terminal on branchlets, with 3--5(--7) spikelets; spikelets 2-or 3-flowered; bracts broadly ovate (1--)2--3 mm; first bractlet 5.5--6.5 mm, glabrous or slightly minutely hispid. Calyx funnelform, 6--8.5(--10.5) mm; tube 1--1.3 mm in diam.; limb pale purple, becoming white when dry; lobes apically acute. Corolla pale purple-red. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Jul-Aug.
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