Stem solitary, erect, 20-50 cm tall, to 7 mm in diam. at base, proximally glabrous, distalmost shortly yellowish brown pilose. Basal leaves petiolate; petiole 5-13 cm, to 5 mm wide, base sheathed; sheath 6-9 cm, submembranous, not split and fibriform when dry; leaf blade abaxially green, adaxially dark green, orbicular-reniform or reniform, 6-8 cm in diam., palmately veined, abaxially with prominent veins, glabrous, margin regularly crenate, apex of teeth mucronate; sinus narrow. Stem leaves 1 or 2; middle leaves reniform, petiolate, base sheathed; distal leaves sessile, bracteal, ovate-oblong, without sheath. Capitulum solitary, nodding. Involucre hemispheric, 1.1-1.3 × 2.5-3 cm, outside blackish purple, glabrous; phyllaries 20, in 2 rows, oblong, 2-5 mm wide, margin entire, apex obtuse or acute; inner phyllaries broadly membranous at margin. Florets numerous, all tubular, yellow, ca. 6 mm; tube ca. 2 mm; limb cylindric. Achenes oblong, to 6 mm. Pappus pale brown, slightly shorter than tubular corolla. Fl. and fr. Jun-Jul.

● Grassy slopes, stream banks, calcitic cliffs; 3400-3500 m. NW Yunnan.