Leaves 5--10(--20); petiole 3--15(--20) cm × 1--2 mm, villous or pubescent; leaf blade usually 3-sect, sometimes 3-parted, reniform-pentagonal to broadly ovate, (1--)2--6(--10) × 2--8(--10) cm, densely spreading villous, sparsely pubescent, or sometimes abaxially subglabrous, base cordate, rarely subtruncate; segments overlapping or remote; central segment shortly petiolulate, 3-parted, 3-cleft, or 2- or 3-lobed, rarely undivided, rhombic-ovate to broadly rhombic, subequaling or larger than lateral segments, margin obtusely lobulate-dentate; lateral segments subsessile, unequally 2- or 3-parted or 2- or 3-lobed, obliquely flabellate to ovate. Scapes 2--5, 5--25(--40) cm, spreading villous; cyme 1- or 2(or 3)-flowered. Involucral bract blade 3-parted, 3-cleft, 3-lobed, 3-dentate, or undivided, broadly rhombic, rhombic-obovate, oblong-ovate, lanceolate, or cuneate, 1--3 cm, appressed pilose. Pedicel 1--3(--5) cm, appressed pilose. Sepals 5 or 6(--8), white, yellowish, or bluish, obovate or elliptic, 5--15(--20) × 3--8(--10) mm, abaxially pilose, basal veins 3--5(--7), vein anastomoses absent, sometimes solitary. Stamens brownish yellow, 2.2--3(--5) mm; filament linear, slightly narrowed apically, 0.5--0.8 mm wide; anther dark, ellipsoid, connective dark, narrow. Pistils brown, 2--3(--4) mm; ovary ovoid, usually villous or sometimes subglabrous; style straight or curved. Achene body broadly ovoid, rarely slightly compressed, 3--6 × 2--3.5 mm, without ribs; densely strigose, softly pubescent (hairs 0.6--1.6 mm), or subglabrous; style usually apically hooked or sometimes straight, 1--2.5 mm. Fl. May--Jul.

Forests, forest margins, alpine meadows, grassy slopes; 2900--4000 m. SW Sichuan, E and S Xizang, W Yunnan [Afghanistan, Bhutan, N India, Kashmir, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim].