Cryptotaeniopsis gracillima H. Wolff, Acta Horti Gothob. 2: 306. 1926; Pternopetalum lamellosociliare K. T. Fu; P. wangianum Handel-Mazzetti.

Plants 10–20 cm tall, glabrous. Stems 1–6, usually unbranched or occasionally of a single branch. Basal leaves petiolate, petioles 5–7 cm; blade ovate-triangular, 1.5–3 × 1–3 cm, ternate-2–3-pinnate; pinnae 4–5-paired, proximal pinnae petiolulate; ultimate segments linear, 1.5–5 × 0.5–1 mm. Cauline leaves absent, or occasionally 1, similar to the basal. Umbels 1–2 cm across in flower, to 5 cm in fruit, usually terminal; bracts absent or 1, linear-lanceolate; rays (5–)10–15(–30), 1–3 cm; bracteoles 2, 1–2 mm; umbellules 2–3-flowered; pedicels 0.2–2 mm. Calyx teeth minute, triangular, ca. 0.1 mm. Petals white. Stylopodium low-conic; styles ca. 2 mm, shorter than stylopodium, reflexed. Fruit oblong-ovoid, ca. 2 × 1.1 mm, both mercarps developed in fruit; ribs filiform; vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. Fl. and fr. May–Aug.

Forests, mossy rocks; 1500–3400 m. Gansu, Hubei, Sichuan, NW Yunnan.