Perennial, herbs. Rootstock profusely elongated, thick and stout, covered with remnants of stipules and leaf bases. Basal stem 3-10 cm. long, simple or branched, cylindrical, woody, covered with remains of woody scale leaves, villose. Flowering stem and leaves terminal, borne on the apex of the basal stem, 10-20 cm. long, ascending, moderately pilose. Leaves few, ascending, ternate, petioles 3-8 cm. long, slender, ± compressed, moderately pilose. Basal stipules ovate-lanceolate, acute, membranous, brown, auriculate. Leaflets 2.0-4.5 x 1.0-2.0 cm., broadly obovate-cuneate or rhomboid-cuneate, deeply 5-8 toothed, teeth acute, sparsely villose to glabrescent above and beneath. Flowers 2-3 on a flowering branch, conspicuous, 2-3 cm. across, pedicels 2.0-3.5 cm. long, densely pubescent. Sepals ± equal, sparsely pilose, acute. Petals 0.9-1.0 cm. long, obcordate, yellow. Stamens 20-25, anthers dithecous. Carpels numerous, embedded in densely villose hairs, styles subterminal, c. 2 mm. long, flattened downward, stigma non-dilated. Achenes oblong-ovate, villose.
Fl. Per.: July-September
Type: Kamaon, Wall. Catalogue No. 1012 (K) isotype (E).
A-8 Gilgit, Harmosh Range (approx. 36 N, 75 E), Mani Basin, 12,500 – 14,000 ft., C. Culbert 61 (BM), B-9 Kashmir, Masjid Valley, 13,000 – 14,000 ft., J.F. Duthie 14147 (BM, E, LE), Kolohoi Valley, ± 11,000 ft, on dripping log ledges, flowers yellow, O. Polunin 56/507 (BM), Nafran, Upper Lidder Valley, crevices in cliffs, 11,000 ft., R.R. Stewart 12661 (MICH).
Distribution: Pakistan, Kashmir, N. India (Kumaon, Garhwal), Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, Tibet.
This species is common in Kashmir, collected only from a few localities in Pakistan. Found on cliffs of rocks in open sunny places between 3,000 and 5,000 m.
