Perennial dioecious herb. Root robust, branched. Rhizome thick, elongated or stout 1-3 cm thick, nearly obconical. Scaly radical leaves on the apical part of the rhizome. Flowering stems 1-2, rarely 5-10 on each rhizome, simple, erect, glabrous, 5-100 cm high, 1-5 mm thick at anthesis, dead flowering stems deciduous. Cauline leaves, alternate, sessile or shortly petiolate, elliptic, oblong-ovate, obovate, entire-remotely serrate, obtuse or acute, glabrous, 1-9.5 x 0.4-4.5 cm. Inflorescence terminal, many-flowered corymb, bracteate. Bracts similar to the cauline leaves. Flowers usually 5-merous, unisexual, pedicel 2-5 mm long. Calyx 1.5-8 x 0.3-1.2 mm, lobes basally connate, glabrous, purplish, linear-lanceolate, narrowly triangular, entire, obtuse. Petals glabrous, entire, dark purplish-red, obovate to ovate, 2-4 x 1-2 mm in male, oblong to oblong-ovate, 1.5-4 x 0.5-1.5 mm in female. Stamens 10, as long as petals, in two whorls, basifixed, epipetalous 1.5-3.5 mm long, alternipetalous 2-4 mm long. Pistillodes 0.8-2 x 0.5-1 mm, style indistinct in male. Carpels 3.5-9 x 1-2 mm, style 0.2-0.3 mm long, ovules 10-16 per locule. Nectar scales oblong, 0.5-1.2 x 0.3-0.8 mm. Follicles 5-12 x 1.5-2 mm. Seeds 10-16 per fruit, ellipsoid, apex round, brown, 1.4-2.5 x 0.3-0.5 mm.

Fl.Per.: July-September.

Type: Nepal, Gosain Than (=Gosainkund), Wallich 7229 (BM!).

Grows from 2750-3700 m on rocks, crevices and grassy slopes; Distribution: Pakistan, India (Kumaon), Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Myanmar and S. W. China (Xizang, Yunnan and Sichuan).