Herbs perennial, eglandular pubescent. Roots clustered, cylindric. Stems diffuse, 30--70 cm, multibranched, shortly pubescent. Leaves with short, sterile axillary branches; leaf blade elliptic, 2--3 cm × 6--15 mm, both surfaces pubescent, ciliate, midvein prominent, base cuneate or attenuate into short petiole, apex acute. Inflorescence a thyrse, sometimes composed of two orders, cymules usually 5--7-flowered, dense. Pedicel 1--10(--20) mm, pubescent; bracts linear-lanceolate, herbaceous, blackish pointed, pubescent. Flowers ca. 1.5 cm in diam. Calyx tubular or narrowly campanulate, 1.2--1.5 cm × ca. 3.5 mm, pubescent, base umbilicate; calyx teeth blackish violet, ovate-lanceolate, ca. 3.5 mm, apex acuminate. Androgynophore ca. 2.5 mm, glabrous. Petals ca. 1.8 cm; claws included in calyx, oblanceolate, glabrous, with broad auricles; limbs pale red or white, ca. 7 mm, bifid to middle; lobes linear, with 1 narrow lateral tooth; coronal scales lanceolate, 1.5--2 mm, apex acute. Stamens and styles exserted; filaments glabrous. Styles 3. Capsule subovoid, 8--10 mm. Seeds reniform. Fl. Aug--Sep.

Silene otodonta is easily distinguished from all other species by numerous lateral dichasia, forming a complex paniculate thyrse, and its acuminate flower buds, appearing pointed because of the protruding, blackish violet calyx teeth.

* Forests; 2100--2500 m. Sichuan, Yunnan.