Plants 8–30 cm high. Rootstock short bearing fibrous roots. Stem slender, erect, unbranched. Basal leaves several; petioles 5–15 cm; blade subrounded, round-cordate or subpentagonal, 1.5–3 × 3–6 cm, palmately 3–5-parted; central segment broadly obovate or cuneate-obovate, 1.5–3 × 1–2.5 cm, base attenuate, apex shallowly 3-lobed, margin irregularly sharply serrate. Cauline leaves sessile or petiolate, palmately 3–5-parted. Bracts 2, opposite, long-ovate or ovate-lanceolate; rays 3–5 mm; bracteoles small, linear; umbellules 6–8-flowered. Staminate flowers 5–7 per umbellule; pedicels 1.5–2.5 mm; petals white or pinkish, broadly obovate, apex notched. Fertile flowers 1 or 2 per umbellule, sessile; calyx teeth ovate, ca. 0.5 × 0.3 mm; styles 2–2.5 mm, recurved. Fruit ovoid or ovoid-globose, ca. 1.2 × 1 mm, proximal part covered with scales, distal part covered with slightly uncinate bristles, bristles pale yellow or purplish red; vittae obscure. Fl. and fr. Mar–Jun.

Mixed forests on mountain slopes; 1300–3200 m. W Hubei, E Qinghai, Sichuan, SE Xizang, NW Yunnan.