Herbs biennial, glabrous. Roots fibrous. Basal leaves spatulate-oblong, 3.5-6 × 1-1.5 cm. Flowering stem erect, 5-60 cm; stem leaves alternate, broadly oblanceolate, subobovate, or ovate-orbicular, 2.5-3 × 0.4-1 cm, margin entire or distally acuminately serrate, apex obtusely rounded or acuminate. Inflorescences paniculate, often corymbiform; lateral branches generally 5-6 cm or shorter; bracts resembling distal stem leaves but smaller. Sepals broadly triangular, ca. 2 × 1 mm, apex subacute. Petals red, reddish, yellow, or greenish yellow, lanceolate to ovate, 2.5-5.5 × ca. 2 mm, apex usually reflexed. Stamens 3-4 mm. Nectar scales quadrate, apex emarginate. Carpels ovoid, 2.5-3 mm, base connate for 0.5-1 mm, apex acute. Styles less than 1 mm. Follicles apically with a recurved beak. Seeds smooth. Fl. Jul-Oct.

Rocks in valleys or on slopes, dry stony and gravelly slopes, river banks; 500-4000 m. S Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim].