Plants 30–40 cm. Stem purplish, unbranched or 1–2-branched above. Leaf blade pinnate (sometimes with 3 leaflets); ultimate segments ovate to long-ovate, 1.5–4 × 0.5–2 cm. Cauline leaves reduced upwards, petioles sheathing throughout. Umbels terminal and lateral, loosely compound, terminal umbels often 1–2 branched; umbels 4–9 cm across; bracts 1–8, lanceolate, unequal, 5–50 × 1–5 mm, entire, apex 3-lobed or pinnate; rays 8–25, purplish-red, unequal, 2–6 cm; bracteoles linear or lanceolate, unequal, 3–10 × 0.5–1 mm; umbellules 8–20-flowered. Pedicels 3–12 mm, unequal. Calyx teeth absent. Petals white, obovate unequal. Styles short. Fruit oblong, 5–7 × 4–5 mm; vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. Fl. and fr. Sep–Oct.

Sparse Betula forests, margins of cultivated areas; 2800–3000 m. N Sichuan (Songpan).