Plants (7–)30–60 cm, glabrous. Root fusiform. Stems single or 2–3, 1–2-branched. Basal petioles 3–7 cm; blade oblong or lanceolate, (3–)5–10 × (2–)3–5 cm, 2–3-pinnate; ultimate segments oblanceolate, 2–3 × 0.5–1 mm, 3-lobed at the apex. Cauline leaves 1–2, similar to basal, reduced. Umbels terminal and lateral, 4–7 cm across; bracts 2–3, linear, entire, apex caudate, rarely 1–2-pinnate; rays (5–)8–10, unequal, (1.5–)3–8 cm; bracteoles 5–7, linear-lanceolate, entire, caudate or apex 2–3-lobed, rarely pinnate, connate at base; umbellules many-flowered. Calyx teeth triangular, ca. 0.4 mm. Petals white, obovate, base shortly clawed. Styles erect to divergent. Fruit oblong-ovoid, ca. 3 × 2 mm; ribs all narrowly winged; vittae 4–5 in each furrow, 8–10 on commissure. Seed face slightly concave. Fl. Jul–Aug, fr. Sep.

Russian authors consider this species to be synonymous with Hymenidium chloroleucum (see Pleurospermum hookeri var. thomsonii).

Coniferous forests, alpine scrub and meadows, alpine talus slopes; 3400–4500 m. W Sichuan, NW Yunnan.