Rhizome blackish brown, slender, 1--1.5 mm in diam. Stem soft, 10--23 cm tall. Basal leaves numerous, glabrous; petiole 3.2--9 cm; leaf blade triangular, to 6.5 cm wide; central leaflet petiolule slender; leaflet blade rhombic to obovate, 1--1.5 × 1--1.5 cm, 3-foliolate to 3-parted; segments unequally 2- or 3-parted or lobed, apically entire or with 3 obtuse teeth. Stem leaves 1 or 2, similar to basal leaves but smaller. Inflorescences 2- or 3-flowered; bracts ovate, 3-lobed to 3-sect. Flowers 1.5--1.8 cm in diam. Pedicel to 6 mm, glabrous. Sepals elliptic to obovate, 7--8.5 × 4--5 mm, apex rounded to obtuse. Petals oblong, 2.5--3 mm, basally tubulose. Stamens ca. 20; filaments 4.5--5 mm; anthers ca. 0.5 mm. Pistils 2--5. Follicles ca. 6.5 × 3 mm; persistent styles slightly curved, glabrous. Seeds ellipsoid, ca. 1.5 mm. Fl. Jun--Jul , fr. Jul--Sep.

Forests, grassy slopes; 2300--3500 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang [Afghanistan, N India, Kashmir, Pakistan, Russia].