Plants 50–70 cm, perennial. Taproot long-fusiform, dark brown. Stem usually solitary, erect, usually little-branched above, base without fibrous remnant sheaths. Basal leaves several, narrowly long-lanceolate or long-elliptic, 9–14 × 1–1.3 cm, thinly papery, 7–9-nerved, margin tinged red, base tapering into long petioles, clasping. Upper leaves short-petiolate; blade elliptic or lanceolate, 7–12 × 1–2 cm, apex obtuse-acute, apiculate. Apical leaf small, sessile. Umbels few, 4–8 cm across; bracts 1–3, elliptic, 4–9 × 2–4 mm, apiculate; rays 8–11, 0.5–4 cm, unequal, slender; bracteoles 5–7, ovate-lanceolate, 5–11 × 1.5–3 mm, unequal, membranous, apex acute, apiculate, equaling or slightly exceeding the flowers; umbellules 4–6 mm across, 8–16-flowered; pedicels 1.2–2.2 mm. Petals yellow. Stylopodium low-conic, yellow. Fruit ellipsoid, dark brown, 3.5–5 × 1.6–2.1 mm; ribs pale brown, slightly prominent; vittae 3 in each furrow, 4 on commissure. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep.

At least var. petiolulatum has reputed medicinal value. See the taxonomic note under Bupleurum candollei.

Mixed forests on mountain slopes, among shrubs, alpine grasslands; 2300–3900 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan.