Stem l(or 2), 17-55 cm, with 1 leaf near middle. Basal leaves 2-4(or 5); petiole (4-)7-12 cm; leaf blade abaxially greenish, densely brown punctate, adaxially deep greenish, ovate-cordate, 2-4.5 × ca. 3.5 cm, leathery, midvein conspicuous, base cordate or subcordate, apex acute or acuminate. Cauline leaf sessile, semiamplexicaul, densely purple-brown punctate, ovate-cordate, 1.3-2.1 cm, base cordate, often with several rusty brown appendages. Flower 1.5-2.5 cm in diam.; hypanthium turbinate. Sepals densely purple-brown punctate, broadly ovate, 5-6 × 2-4 mm, margin entire or erose proximally, apex obtuse or acute. Petals white, densely purple-brown punctate, broadly spatulate, 1-2 cm × 6-8 mm, 3-veined, base with a claw 3-3.5 mm, margin entire or long fimbriate proximally, erose distally, apex rounded. Anthers ellipsoid, ca. 1.8 mm; filaments ca. 8 mm; staminodes flat, ca. 5 mm, 3-lobed to middle, lobes linear, ca. 3 mm, apex rounded. Ovary densely purple-brown punctate, ovoid; style short; stigma 3-lobed. Capsule ovoid, with 3 thickened, longitudinal angles. Seeds brown, glossy, oblong. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Sep.

In habit, this species resembles Parnassia wightiana, which differs in having thinner, subtriangular-ovate, ovate-cordate, broadly cordate, or reniform basal leaf blades and 5-lobed staminodes.

* Streamsides, moist places in valleys; 2500-3300 m. W Sichuan, N Yunnan.