Caudex 2--5 cm, 1--1.8 cm in diam., chainlike. Stem ca. 1 m tall, branched, basally glabrous, apically sparsely curved pubescent, densely leaved. Middle cauline leaves shortly petiolate; petiole 0.6--1.5 cm; leaf blade pentagonal, 7--11 × 7--14 cm, both surfaces glabrous or abaxially sparsely pubescent, 3-sect; central segment broadly rhombic, duplicato-pinnatisect; ultimate lobes narrowly linear, 1.6--2.6 mm wide; lateral segments obliquely flabellate, unequally 2-fid nearly to base. Inflorescence terminal, ± densely flowered; rachis and pedicels sparsely appressed pubescent or densely spreading pubescent; bracts lanceolate to linear. Pedicels 1.5--3 cm, with 2 bracteoles above middle; bracteoles subulate, ca. 3.5 mm. Sepals purple, abaxially sparsely pubescent; lower sepals obovate-oblong; lateral sepals 1--1.6 cm; upper sepal galeate or navicular-galeate, 1.2--2.2 cm high, clawed, 1.1--2 cm from base to beak. Petals glabrous or sparsely pubescent; lip ca. 5.5 mm; spur incurved, ca. 2 mm. Stamens sparsely pubescent; filaments entire or 2-denticulate. Carpels 3--5, glabrous. Fl. Jul--Aug.

Grassy slopes, forests; 1800--2000 m. C and NW Xinjiang [Kazakhstan].