Herbs, perennial, 15-60 cm tall, rhizomatous, often not branched; most parts gray sericeous-pubescent. Basal leaves in dense rosette; petiole 6-7(-15) cm; leaf blade elliptic-ovate or oblong, 7-12 × 5-6 cm, 1- or 2-pinnatipartite; segments (3 or)4-6 pairs; distal and lateral lobes obovate, 2-4 × 1-3 cm, divided; lobules lanceolate or elliptic-lanceolate, rarely ovate-lanceolate, 10-15 × 3-5 mm; basal lobes entire; rachis with 3-4 mm wide wing. Lower and middle stem leaves: petiole 1-3 cm; leaves few, oblong or oblong-elliptic, 2.5-5(-6) × 1.5-3.5(-4) cm, pinnatisect; segments 3 or 4 pairs; lobes lanceolate, linear-lanceolate, or oblanceolate, 10-30(-35) × 2-3 mm. Uppermost leaves and leaflike bracts lanceolate or oblanceolate, 30-50 × 2-4 mm. Synflorescence a simple erect raceme, to 35 cm. Capitula nodding; peduncles 3-10 mm. Involucre hemispheric, 6-10 mm in diam.; phyllaries densely yellowish pubescent. Marginal female florets 10-16. Disk florets 50-60, bisexual; corolla limb purple. Achene obovoid or oblong. Fl. and fr. Jul-Oct.

● Alpine steppes, alpine meadows, slopes; 3200-4600 m. S Gansu, E Qinghai, NW Sichuan.