Caudex carrot-shaped, ca. 10 cm. Stem 60--170 cm tall, simple or 1-branched below inflorescence, basally usually glabrous, apically retrorse pubescent, with leaves equally arranged along stem. Proximal cauline leaves withered at anthesis, middle ones long or shortly petiolate; petiole 2--7 cm; leaf blade pentagonal, 4.2--7 × 6--8 cm, abaxially sparsely pubescent at veins, adaxially appressed pubescent, 3-parted; central lobe rhombic, apex acuminate; lateral lobes obliquely flabellate or obliquely ovate, unequally 2-parted nearly to base. Inflorescence terminal, 8--40 cm, 7--30-flowered; rachis and pedicels densely spreading pubescent; proximal bracts leaflike, distal ones narrowly linear, 7--12 mm. Pedicels 1.5--4 cm, proximally with 2 bracteoles; bracteoles linear or linear-subulate, 2--4 × ca. 0.4 mm. Sepals pale blue or white, adaxially pubescent or glabrous; lateral sepals ca. 1.6 cm; lower sepals ca. 1.5 cm; upper sepal galeate, 1.7--2 cm high, shortly or long beaked, 1.5--1.8 cm from base to beak. Petals pubescent; claw usually slightly geniculate or not at apex; limb 3--5 mm; spur slightly incurved, short. Stamens pubescent; filaments entire. Carpels 3(--5), glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Fl. Jul--Aug.

After publication of the treatment for the FOC, this taxon was lectotypified by LUO Yan & YANG Qiner (Acta Phytotax. Sin. 43 (4): 331-333. 2005).

* Forests, scrub in valleys, grassy slopes; 2700--3700 m. W Sichuan.