Rhizome prostrate, stolonlike, long, 1--2 mm in diam., also oblique, short, 8--10 mm in diam. Leaves 2--5; petiole 5--10 (--20) cm, puberulent, base sheathing, surrounded by fibrous remnants; leaf blade ternate, cordate-pentagonal, 2--3 × 2.5--4 cm, sparsely puberulent; petiolules 1--3 mm; central leaflet 3-lobed, broadly rhombic, base cuneate, margin incised serrate, apex obtuse; lateral leaflets unequally 2-lobed, smaller than central one. Scape 5--15(--25) cm, sparsely puberulent distally; cyme 1-flowered. Involucral bracts 3; petiole 1--1.5 cm × 3--5 mm, base sheathing and connate; bract blade 3-parted or 3-lobed, similar to that of leaves but smaller, triangular-ovate to ovate, puberulent; petiolules 1--2 mm. Pedicel 1--3 cm, puberulent. Sepals 5(or 6), white or yellow, elliptic to obovate, 5--8 × 3--5 mm, subglabrous or sparsely puberulent, basal veins 3--5, vein anastomoses absent. Stamens 3--4 mm; filament filiform, slightly compressed; anther ellipsoid, connective narrow. Pistils 5--20; ovary obovoid, 1.2--1.8 mm, sparsely puberulent or glabrous; style short, apically curved. Achene body ellipsoid, narrowly ribbed, 2.5--3 × ca. 1.5 mm, sparsely puberulent, hairs ca. 0.1 mm; style curved, conic, ca. 1 mm, glabrous. Fl. Jun--Aug.

* Picea forests, mixed Betula forests, scrub, shady places in valleys; 2000--3500 m. S Gansu, E Qinghai, S Shanxi, W Sichuan, Taiwan, NW Yunnan.