Herbs perennial, 60--90 cm tall. Roots brown-gray, thick, woody. Stems erect, reddish or glaucous, glabrous. Leaves ovate, 2.5--6 × 1--3.5 cm, 3- or 5-veined, base amplexicaul, apex obtuse to acute. Cymes terminal, lax; bracts triangular, margin membranous, ciliate, apex acuminate. Pedicel 5--10 mm. Calyx campanulate, 2--3 mm; lobes ovate-triangular, margin membranous, ciliate, apex obtuse. Petals pale purple or pink, oblong, ca. 6 mm, base narrowed, apex rounded. Stamens shorter than petals. Ovary ovoid. Styles shorter than petals. Capsule ovoid, longer than calyx. Seeds brown-black, compressed reniform-globose, 1.2--1.5 mm, obtusely tuberculate. Fl. Jul--Oct, fr. Aug--Oct.

The roots are used medicinally.

Quercus-forested hills, forest margin grasslands, rocky slopes; 200--300 m. Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning [Korea, Russia (Far East)].