Leaves 5--10(--15); petiole 5--30 cm, sparsely or densely villous or lanate; leaf blade 3-sect, ovate, broadly so, rhombic-pentagonal, or reniform-pentagonal, 5--8 × 4--6(--12) cm, villous or subglabrous, base cordate or subtruncate, margin ciliate; central segment petiolulate (petiolule 5--15 mm), 3-parted, broadly rhombic or rhombic-ovate, margin incised lobulate, ultimate lobules ovate or triangular; lateral segments subsessile, unequally 2- or 3-parted, smaller than central one, sometimes much more so. Scapes 2 or 3(--5), 5--45(--80) cm, spreading villous; cyme umbellate, 1--5(--8)-flowered. Involucral bracts 3 or 4; bract blade 3-parted or 3-lobed, broadly rhombic or narrowly obovate-oblong, 2--4 cm, pubescent. Pedicel 2--6(--8) cm, pubescent. Sepals 5--7, blue, purple, red, or white, obovate or elliptic, 8--18 × 4--12 mm, sometimes dimorphic (inner ones smaller and of different shape), sparsely puberulent, basal veins 3--7, vein anastomoses 1--3. Stamens 3--5 mm; filament slightly dilated; anther cylindric, 1--2 mm, apex rounded. Staminodes sometimes present. Ovary glabrous or scarcely pubescent, sometimes sterile. Achene body broadly ellipsoid or obovoid, 6--7 × 4--6 mm, glabrous or scarcely pubescent; wings 0.8--1.2 mm wide; style curved, 1.8--2 mm. Fl. May--Jul.

Forests, sparse forests, scrub, grassy slopes, streamsides; 3000--5000 m. S Gansu, S Qinghai, W Sichuan, E and S Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, Nepal, Sikkim].