Herbs (2-)6.5-15 cm tall. Bulb 1, subterranean. Stolons arising from leaf axils, filiform, glabrous. Stems glabrous; internodes sometimes very short. Leaves alternate, brown spotted, proximal ones scalelike, margin entire, distal ones with petiole 1-1.9 cm, brown papillose at axil; leaf blade reniform, 0.8-1.3 × 0.9-1.7 cm, both surfaces glabrous, base ± cordate, margin 7-11-crenate, teeth brown papillose at sinus, retuse and 1-verrucose at apex. Flower solitary or cyme 2- or 3-flowered; bracteal leaves brown papillose at axil, leaf blade ovate to orbicular-cordate, 3-13 × 2.5-13 mm, both surfaces glabrous, base rounded to cordate, margin 5-11-crenate. Pedicel nearly absent. Sepals erect, broadly ovate to broadly subobovate, 2-3 × 2.2-3 mm, brown papillose at sinus, elsewhere glabrous, apex obtuse or retuse. Stamens 8; filaments 1-1.6 mm. Pistil 2.6-4.1 mm; ovary semi-inferior, styles 0.9-1.1 mm. Disc obscure. Capsule ca. 3 mm, apex retuse; rostrums ca. 1 mm. Seeds dark brown, shiny, ovoid, ca. 1 mm, smooth, glabrous. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug.

Forests, alpine meadows, alpine rock clefts; 2400-4700 m. Gansu, Qinghai, S Shaanxi (Taibai Shan), W Sichuan, E Xizang, NW Yunnan [Nepal].