Plants 5-25 cm tall. Rhizomes reduced; roots fascicled, fibrous, less than 1 mm in diam. Stems solitary, erect, simple. Cauline leaves 5-8 pairs; lowermost often undivided; petiole 1-3.5 cm; blade broadly ovate to elliptic, 0.5-1.6 × 0.5-1 cm, sparsely serrate; upper leaves with petiole 1-1.2 cm, 3(-5)-segmented; terminal segment ovate-orbicular or broadly elliptic, 0.8-2 × 0.5-1.2 cm, petiole and abaxial surface sparsely pubescent, margin ciliate; lateral segments reduced. Inflorescence capitate at anthesis, 1-1.5 cm in diam.; bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate to lanceolate. Corolla rose, reddish purple, or pink, 2.5-4 mm; lobes broadly elliptic, 0.7-1.5 mm, glabrous or villous at throat. Stamens and style exserted. Achenes narrowly ovoid or ellipsoid, 2.5-3 mm, pubescent or glabrous. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Aug-Sep.

Alpine meadows or stony sites; 3000-4600 m. SW Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal].