Myricaria pulcherrima Batalin

Shrubs or subshrubs, 1-1.5 m tall. Stem usually simple, rarely much branched; old branches red-brown; branches of current year reddish or gray-green. Leaves lax, cordate or broadly ovate, relatively large, 5-10(-18) × 6-7 mm, abruptly narrowing upward from middle, base enlarged and deeply cordate, amplexicaul, apex acuminate; green branchlets often in leaf axils; leaves on such branchlets smaller and denser. Racemes usually terminal, 2-12 cm; bracts yellow-white, broadly ovate, 5-6 mm, equaling or slightly shorter than calyx, thickening at middle, margin broadly membranous and pellucid, apex acute or acuminate. Pedicels 2-3 mm. Sepals ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate, ca. 4 × 2 mm, margin narrowly membranous, apex obtuse. Petals purple-red or pinkish, obovate or narrowly elliptic, ca. 7 × 3 mm, apex obtuse. Filaments ca. 1/2 united. Ovary conic or narrowly ovate, ca. 6 mm; stigmas 3-lobed. Capsule conic, 1.5-1.6 mm, ca. 4 × exceeding calyx. Seeds awned; awns more than 1/2 white villous. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep.

● Sandy places on river banks, lowlands among mountains. S Xinjiang.