Herbs perennial, 30--40 cm tall, glabrous except for stems. Stems erect, simple, sparsely rust-colored pilose or glabrescent. Lower leaves scalelike, ovate-lanceolate, ca. 15 X 7 mm, base clasping. Upper leaves 4 in a terminal whorl; petiole 5--7 mm; leaf blade elliptic, 10--14 X 6--7.5 cm, papery, glabrous, with slightly raised scattered transparent glandular stripes, base broadly cuneate, apex acute to short acuminate. Umbels terminal, rarely in axils of scalelike leaves immediately below terminal whorl, 3--9-flowered, pedunculate; peduncle 1.8--6 cm, glabrous; bracts lanceolate, 6--12 X 1--3 mm. Pedicel 1.2--2.5 cm. Calyx lobes broadly ovate, ca. 3.5 mm in fruit, margin glandular, apex apiculate. Anthers dorsifixed, opening by lateral slits. Capsule ca. 2.5 mm in diam.

* Shaded areas on mountain slopes, under shrubs. N Guizhou (Xishui Xian).