Rhizomes pale brown. Leaves: blade 2-ternate or ternate with leaflets deeply 3-lobed almost to base; leaflets short- to long-petiolulate, blade ovate to triangular, incised-lobate nearly to midvein, margins sharply serrulate-denticulate. Inflorescences 2-4-flowered, often shorter than leaves at anthesis, 5-10 cm, elongating to 25 cm in fruit. Flowers nodding; sepals reflexed and ascending, linear-lanceolate, 6-11× 0.3-1 mm; petals linear-lanceolate, nectary nearly basal, blade flattened, narrowly ligulate at apex; stamens 10-25. Follicles 5-11; stipe equal to or slightly shorter than body; body oblong, 8-13.5 mm; beak recurved, less than 1mm. Seeds 2-2.5 mm.

Flowering spring-summer. Moist woods, stream banks, seeps, and wet cliffs in the coastal mountains; 500-2000 m; Calif., Oreg., Wash.