Plants 11-40 cm tall. Radical leaves broadly cordate, 1-2 cm long, 0.6-l.8 cm broad, somewhat glaucous, cauline leaf situated below the middle of the scape. Scape angular. Flowers 1.5-2 cm in diameter. Calyx tube c.1 mm long, lobes 4-5 mm long, c.2-2.5 mm broad, elliptic, acute, brown spotted. Petals 0.7-1 cm long, 5-7 mm broad, oblong-ovate, obtuse, usually 9 nerved, nerves mostly parallel and convergent at the top; staminodes spathulate, ending in 9-17 lobes tipped with pseudo-nectaries. Capsule globose, c.1 cm long; seeds minute, somewhat cylindrical, testa loose, reticulate.

Fl. Per.: June-August.

Type: ‚Habitat in Europae uliginosis’.

Distribution: Fairly common in the temperate and alpine regions of Europe, N. Asia and N. America, grows mostly in moist and boggy places in grass.