Caudex narrowly obconical, to 6.5 cm, to 2 cm in diam. Stem 1--1.5 m tall, usually simple, sparsely pubescent. Proximal cauline leaves withered at anthesis, middle ones slightly long petiolate; petiole ca. 3 cm; leaf blade cordate-pentagonal, ca. 7 × 9.5 cm, both surfaces appressed pubescent, 3-parted; central lobe rhombic, 3-fid; lateral lobes obliquely flabellate, unequally 2-fid. Inflorescence 6--15 cm, many flowered; rachis and pedicels densely spreading yellowish pubescent and shortly glandular pubescent; bracts leaflike or lanceolate-linear to linear. Pedicels 2--8 cm, oblique upward, proximally with 2 bracteoles; bracteoles narrowly linear, ca. 4 mm. Sepals purple, abaxially densely pubescent; lower sepals ca. 1.6 cm; lateral sepals 1.5--1.7 cm; upper sepal galeate or lower galeate, 1.5--2 cm high, ca. 1.7 cm from base to beak, lower margin slightly concave. Petaline claw sparsely pubescent; lip ca. 5 mm, slightly concave; spur slightly incurved, ca. 1.5 mm. Stamens sparsely pubescent; filaments entire. Carpels 5, densely yellowish pubescent. Fl. Sep. 2n = 32.

Scrub; ca. 4000 m. S Xizang [Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim].