Shrubs erect, ca. 2 m tall, much branched. Old branches red-brown or gray-brown; branches of current year gray-white or yellow-gray. Leaves lax, spreading, broadly ovate or elliptic, relatively large, 7-12 × 3-8 mm, base enlarged and rounded or broadly cuneate, not amplexicaul, apex acuminate; numerous green branchlets often in leaf axils; leaves on such branchlets smaller, ovate or narrowly elliptic, 5-7 × 3-4 mm. Racemes lateral, rarely terminal, 9-14 cm, with numerous imbricate scales at base; scales ovate, margin broadly membranous; bracts broadly ovate or elliptic, ca. 7 × 4 mm, slightly shorter than calyx, base narrow, cuneate, margin broadly membranous, apex obtuse. Pedicels ca. 2 mm. Sepals narrowly elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, 4-5 × 1.5-2.5 mm, slightly shorter than petals, margin narrowly membranous, apex obtuse. Petals reddish or pinkish, obovate, 5-6 mm, base narrow, apex obtuse. Filaments ca. 2/3 united. Ovary ovoid-orbicular, ca. 5 mm; stigmas capitate. Capsule conic, ca. 1 cm. Seeds numerous, oblong, apex awned; awns white villous throughout. Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. Jul-Aug.
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