Small tufted plant with stems 7-8cm high. Stems pubescent. Lvs to 3.2x 5mm, linea-lanceolate, flat and punctate above, convex and purplish below. Calyx pinkish excepting keel. Petals forming a tube in lower half, upper parts slightly recurved, rose (or carmine) c. 3.5 × 1.5mm, ± oblong-elliptic, with small dorsal appendage. Anthers c.0.35 mm long. Scales ± obrectangular. This well known cultivated plant probably = "C. schmidtii Regel", whose status is very doubtful.