Herbs. Roots spinose, nodose. Stems diffuse, many branched, slender, 15--30 cm, glabrous at base, violet nodose glandular hairy in 1 line distally. Proximal cauline leaves shortly petiolate; distal cauline leaves sessile; leaf blade linear-lanceolate to orbicular, 1--3 cm × 5--6 mm, adaxially coarse, granular, hairy along veins, base attenuate, margin ciliate, apex obtuse, mucronate. Cymes conic, many flowered; bracts similar to leaves but smaller. Pedicel slender, glandular hairy. Sepals 5, lanceolate, 3--6 mm, glandular pubescent abaxially, apex acuminate. Petals 5, white, obovate or orbicular, 6--10 mm, apex fimbriate. Stamens 10; anthers yellow-green. Ovary ovoid; ovules numerous. Styles 2. Capsule slightly shorter than persistent sepals, apex 4-valved. Seeds 3 or 4, reniform. Fl. and fr. Jul--Sep.

Two varieties have been recognized. The distinguishing charac-ters seem to be only a matter of degree, and the variation pattern should be studied in the field. Perhaps this variation should not be the basis for formal recognition of taxa.

* Alpine forest margins, subalpine meadows, mountain grasslands; 2900--3800 m. SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan.