Perennial, low growing caespitose herbs. Rootstock undivided. Stem 6-8 cm long, ascending, naked, minutely pubescent. Leaves 6-10 at the base forming rosettes, 6-15 paired, 2-3.5 cm long. Stipules with fused auricles, broadly ovate, membranous, pinkish. Leaflets obovate, deeply 6-10 toothed near to the midrib, upper leaflets 4-5.5 x 3-4 mm, lower smaller, sparsely hairy to glabrescent above, greyish tomentose below, sessile. Flowers 1-2, 1-1.5 cm across, calyces sparsely pilose, outer entire or divided, obtuse, inner ovate acute. Petals obovate-orbicular, yellow. Stamens 15-20, rarely 10. Carpels numerous, styles lateral very small, stigma dilated. Achenes ovoid, shiny, attached to the globose receptacle.

Type: Described from Kamaon (PR).

B-9 Kashmir, Sangam Valley, ± 4,000 m., J.F. Duthie 13550 (K).

Distribution: Kashmir, India, Nepal and China (Xizang).

A rare species collected only from few localities in Kashmir, not reported from Pakistan, found in high alpine meadows between 3,500 and 4,000 m.

Hook. f. (1878) considered this taxon as a variety of Potentilla microphylla D. Don on the basis of the number and shape of the leaflets and position of the styles. Potentilla commutate is however clearly differentiated from Potentilla microphylla by its fused auricles of the basal stipules, sparsely greyish tomentose lower surfaces of leaflets and smaller flowers. Potentilla microphylla has free auricles, densely sericeous lower surfaces of the leaflets and bigger flowers.