Herbs perennial, (4--)7--15 cm tall, ± drying black, pubescent throughout. Roots fleshy, to 4--8 mm in diam. Stems 1 to several, erect or outer ones ascending, with lines of white hairs. Leaves in whorls of 3 or 4. Basal leaves cespitose and persistent; petiole to 3--6 cm. Stem leaves petiole short, barely 2--2.5 cm; leaf blade lanceolate-oblong to ovate-oblong, 2.5--4 cm, pinnatipartite; segments 7--12 pairs, lanceolate to oblong, incised-dentate. Inflorescences racemose, to 6 cm, usually interrupted basally; axis densely villous; bracts leaflike, proximal ones slightly longer than flowers. Pedicel ca. 2 mm. Calyx campanulate, 8--9 mm, densely white or deep purple villous, slightly cleft anteriorly; lobes 5, unequal, ± ovate-oblong, ca. 1/3 as long as calyx, serrate or pinnatifid. Corolla purple-red, 1.7--1.9(--2.5) cm; tube decurved basally, 1--1.1 cm, expanded apically; galea slightly falcate, 5--8 mm, rounded in front, margin entire; lower lip 8--9 mm, glabrous. Filaments glabrous. Capsule ovoid-lanceolate, ca. 1.2 cm, short apiculate. Seeds 1.2--1.5 mm. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep.

Moist alpine meadows, among small Rhododendron; 3400--5500 m. SW Sichuan, E and SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kashmir]