Plants 3–10 cm. Basal leaves 1-pinnate; pinnae 3 pairs, 4–5 × 3–4 mm, margins 5–6-toothed or entire, apex 3-lobed. Terminal umbels 3–20 cm across; bracts 4–6, 6–10 mm; rays 10–12, 4–15 cm; bracteoles 7–9, ca. 4 mm, equaling umbellules; umbellules ca. 1 cm across, 10–15-flowered; pedicels 1.5–3 mm. Fruit 3–4 × 1.5–2 mm. Fl. Jun–Jul, fr. Jul–Aug.

See also the morphologically similar Trachydium subnudum, which differs in having more dissected leaves and many-flowered umbellules. Chamaesciadium acaule var. acaule occurs in Afghanistan and SW Asia (SW Caucasus, N Iran, and Turkey) and differs in having 3-lobed or pinnatifid bracteoles. It has been reported from China (Xizang) but no specimens have been seen.

Grasslands; 2500–2700 m. SW Xinjiang (Kashi).