Silvery tomentose perennial herbs, procumbent caespitose. Leaves palmately 5-foliolate, petioles 3-29 mm long, tomentose, stipules membranaceous, 5-12 x 3-5 mm, glabrous except on abaxial surface at the apices. Leaflets sessile, articulated at base, 2.5-12 x 1-7 mm, elliptical to obovate or oblong-obovate, the upper 3 larger than the lower most pair, leaflet blades often folded longitudinally wh en dry, tomentose, with purplish venation distinct on both surfaces. Flowers in small cymose inflorescence, 4-5 - merous, perfect or occasionally staminate, borne on bracteate 4-11 mm long, tomentose pedicels. Bracts 1.5 - 6 x 0.3 - 1.4 mm, lanceolate, bract stipule leafy, 2-3 mm long, 0.3-2.0 mm wide, tomentose abaxially. Bractiole 1.5-2.5 x 0.3 - 1.4 mm, cupshaped to elliptical, sharply acute. Epicalyx lobes 4 or 5, sometimes 6, 0.8-1.2 x 0.3-0.7 mm, oblong to oblong-elliptical, acute or acute - obtuse. Sepals 4 or 5,1-2.2 x 0.3-1.2 mm, deltoid or triangular, acute, glabrous or lower half glabrous, and upper half tomentose adaxially, tomentose abaxially. Petals 4 or 5,1.2-4.0 mm long, 0.6-3.0 mm wide, obovate-elliptical or spathulate- oblong, with emerginate to rounded apices, the surfaces with 3-5 distinct veins. Stamens 4 or 5, the filaments 0.2 -1.0 mm long, (or longer in staminate flowers), the anthers broadly elliptical, disc circular to lobed, 1-3 mm across. Carpels 4-24, inserted on the tomentose receptacles, the central carpels usually larger, ovary 0.2-1.2 mm long, ovoid, hairy at the base, style 0.6-1.2 mm long, lateral, usually purple. Achene 1-2 x c. 1 mm, ovoid, purple-brown, glabrous, surmounted by the persistent style and stigma.

Fl. Per.: May - October.

Inconotype: tab. 40, fig.3 in Royle, 1835 (A!).

R. R. Stewart (l. c.) has cited the following specimens: B-9 Ladak, foot of Sassir Glacier, 16400 ft, Clifford 51, Bangar, Kishtwar Dist. Ludlow & Sherriff 9279 (BM):

Distribution: Kashmir, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Southwestern China (Sikiang), Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

On streams banks, among rocks, common on alpine slopes and may also grow on compact soil, at 4300 - 4600 m.

There is great variation in habit of Sibbaldia purpurea from densely compact moss-l ike to normal plants.