Shrubs 2–4 m tall. Shoots dark gray to brownish gray, terete, with few lenticels, initially sparsely pubescent, glabrous when old; buds ovoid, 5–9 mm, apex acute; scales several, dark reddish brown, sparsely brown pubescent. Leaves imparipinnate, together with rachis 8–15 cm; petiole 1–2 cm; stipules caducous, lanceolate to ovate, 4–8 mm, submembranous, margin entire or sometimes lobed; rachis sulcate, initially puberulous, subglabrous when old, narrowly winged; leaflet blades 9–13(–17)-paired, at intervals of 6–10 mm, dark green adaxially, oblong, rarely oblong-ovate, 1.5–3 × 0.5–1 cm, lateral veins 7–9 pairs, abaxially puberulous along midvein, densely papillose, adaxially glabrous, base obliquely rounded, margin minutely sharply serrate apically, with 5–10 teeth, rarely more along each margin, apex obtuse or acute. Compound corymbs terminal, 5.5–9 × 4.5–8 cm, loosely many flowered; rachis and pedicels glabrous or puberulous, gradually glabrescent, with small ellipsoid lenticels; bracts caducous, lanceolate, 4–6 mm. Pedicel 2–3 mm. Flowers 7–8 mm in diam. Hypanthium campanulate, abaxially glabrous. Sepals triangular, apex obtuse. Petals white, broadly ovate, ca. 5 × 4 mm, adaxially puberulous or subglabrous, apex obtuse. Stamens 20, ca. 1/2 as long as petals. Styles 5 or 4, nearly as long as stamens, puberulous or subglabrous, connate at base to apical 1/3. Fruit white, globose, 7–8 mm in diam.; sepals persistent. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Aug–Sep.

Mixed or coniferous forests in mountain regions; 2000--4500 m. W Sichuan, S Xizang, C and NW Yunnan [Bhutan, Sikkim].