Plants 10–30 cm, slender, glaucous throughout. Rootstock short, thick, ca. 2 × 0.5 mm. Stems 1–3 or numerous, 1–2-branched or unbranched. Basal leaves petiolate, petioles 5–7 cm; blade triangular in outline, 4–10 × 4–8 cm, ternate-1–2-pinnate; pinnae 3–5 pairs; ultimate segments linear-lanceolate, 3–15 × 1–2 mm. Cauline leaves elongate-linear, 5–35 × 0.5–1 mm, reduced upwards becoming 1-pinnate or 3-lobed. Umbels 1.5–2 cm across; bracts and bracteoles absent, occasionally 1; rays 4–7(–10), 1–3 cm, subequal; umbellules ca. 5 mm across, 10–15-flowered; pedicels ca. 2 mm. Calyx teeth minute, triangular, ca. 0.1 mm. Petals violet or greenish-white, entire, apex obtuse to subacute. Young fruit oblong-ovoid (mature fruit un-known); vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. Fl. and fr. Jul–Oct.

This species and Sinocarum vaginatum form a group of narrow-leaved taxa with unclear taxonomic limits: flower color and leaflet dimensions are particularly variable. Further work with new collections will be needed to clarify the situation.

Forests, open alpine scrub, riparian grasslands; 2800–4200 m. W Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [N Myanmar].