Stems (2 or)3(or 4), 19-22 cm, with 1 leaf near middle or distally. Basal leaves 4-6(-12), forming a rosette; petiole 5-11 cm; leaf blade abaxially greenish, adaxially deep green, obovate or oblong-obovate, 2-4 × 1.5-2.6 cm, 5-7-veined with veins parallel in proximal 2/3, prominent abaxially, and impressed adaxially, base cuneate, apex rounded, often obtusely apiculate. Cauline leaf sessile, semiamplexicaul, ovate or broadly so, 1.2-2 × 1.5-2.4 cm, base subcordate, often with several rusty brown appendages. Flower ca. 2.4 cm in diam.; hypanthium turbinate. Sepals adaxially densely purple-brown punctate, ovate or oblong, ca. 6 × 3-4 mm, margin sparsely denticulate, apex acute. Petals white, densely purple-brown punctate on both surfaces, oblong or obovate, ca. 1.2 cm × 4-5 mm, 5-veined basally, base cuneate, margin long fimbriate proximally, entire or undulate distally. Anthers ellipsoid, ca. 3.5 mm; filaments ca. 6 mm; staminodes flat, ca. 5 mm, 3-5-lobed, with inconspicuous glands at apex. Ovary superior, obovoid-trigonous, depressed at apex; style ca. 1.5 mm; stigma 3-lobed. Capsule obconical, with 3 or 4 slightly thickened angles. Seeds brown, glossy, oblong. Fl. Oct.

In floral structure, this species is close to Parnassia dilatata and P. wightiana. However, P. obovata is easily distinguished by its peculiar, obovate or oblong-obovate basal leaf blade, with cuneate base and rounded, often obtusely apiculate apex.

* Streamsides, moist places. Guizhou (Changling, Langdai).