Procris monandra D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal. 61. 1825; Elatostema diversifolium Weddell; E. monandrum f. ciliatum (J. D. Hooker) Hara; E. monandrum f. pinnatifidum (J. D. Hooker) Hara; E. monandrum var. ciliatum (J. D. Hooker) Murti; E. monandrum var. pinnatifidum (J. D. Hooker) Murti; E. muscicola W. T. Wang; E. surculosum Wight; E. surculosum var. ciliatum J. D. Hooker; E. surculosum var. elegans J. D. Hooker; E. surculosum var. pinnatifidum J. D. Hooker; Pellionia mairei H. Léveillé.

Herbs dioecious, 5-20 cm tall. Stems ascending or erect, usually simple, pilose, furfuraceous. Leaves usually opposite, glabrous or glabrescent; nanophylls elliptic to lanceolate, 2-6 mm; stipules obscure; petiole 1-2 mm; leaf blade obliquely cuneate, obliquely elliptic, or lanceolate, 0.8-4(-6.5) × 0.4-1.2(-2) cm, herbaceous or membranous, major basal lateral veins both arising at base of leaf blade, cystoliths conspicuous, sparse or present only along margins; base obliquely cuneate, margin dentate or pinnatifid, apex acute to acuminate. Male inflorescences solitary, simple, 1.5-2 mm in diam.; peduncle 0-1 mm; receptacle obscure; bracts connate, 2-2.5 mm; bracteoles lanceolate to linear. Female inflorescences solitary, 2-5 mm in diam., sessile; receptacle small; bracts broadly ovate; bracteoles spatulate-linear. Male flowers 4-merous. Achenes ellipsoid, 6-ribbed. Fl. Jun-Oct.

Mountain or valley forests, streamsides, dark damp rocks, valley precipices, on tree trunks; 800-3000 m. W Guizhou, SW Shaanxi, SW Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, N Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand].