Tall, perennial herbs. Stem 30-50 cm long, generally leafy, greyish-white tomentose. Leaves trifoliate, petioles 10-20 cm long, densely tomentose. Basal stipules membranous, auricles oblong ovate, acuminate, cauline stipules leafy 3-7 divided. Leaflets broadly ovate-elliptic to obovate-elliptic, 2.5-5.0 x 1.5-2.0 cm, acutely 12-34 serrate-dentate, upper surface sparsely adpressed pilose to glabrescent, lower surface dull white tomentose. Flowers conspicuous, 2.0-3.8 cm diam, sepals pilose, outer ovate, obtuse, generally entire, inner oblong-ovate, acute. Petals large, red or bright yellow, 10-19 mm long and broad, emarginate. Stamens and carpels numerous, style subterminal, filiform, thickened below, 1.5-2.5 mm long.

Type: Seeds collected in Nepal and cultivated in the garden.

B-7 Kaghan Valley, Paya, ± 10,000 ft, Muqarrab Shah & Jamshed 42 (ABD), B-8 Kashmir, vicinity of Pahalgam on East Lidder River, ± 9,000 – 10,000 ft, F.G. Dickason 681 (MICH), Khelanmarg Apharawat, 10,500-11,000 ft, Steane 66 (E), O. Polunin 56/165 (BM, B), Gulmarg, ± 10,000 ft, A. Meebold 2886 (G), Tibbagali Kishtwar, ± 10,000 ft, F. Ludlow & G. Sherriff 9236 (E), Trunkhal, ± 11,000 ft, flowers yellow, bushy, in rocky places, O. Polunin 9607 (BM), Rajdianga, A. Meebold 2886 (G), Gangagir (Sind Valley), flowers yellow with orange spot at the base of each petal, on grassy hill slopes, F. Ludlow & G. Sherriff 7978 (E, BM), Desu, ± 8,500 ft, amongst long grass in meadows which are not used for pastures, M.K. Timins 255 (BM), Lidder Valley, 10-11,000 ft, J.F. Duthie 13312 (W), Preslang-Tannir, ± 9,000 ft, J.R. Drummond 14166 (K), Below Yam Har Pass, ± 12,000 ft, O. Polunin 56/599 (E, B, BM), Near Sinthan Pass, ± 11,000 ft, Ludlow & Sherriff 8201 (BM), Sind Valley, Kulan to Hayan, 7,500-8,000 ft, A.P. Young 1884 (BM), Keran Forest, Kishanganga Valley, ± 9,000 ft, Keshvanand 468 (DD).

Distribution: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, India, Nepal, Bhutan and China.

Potentilla atrosanguinea Lodd exhibits a high degree of polymorphism in the length of the leaflets, number of teeth of the leaflets, colour of flowers and length and breadth of the petals.

The species is found on grassy and stony slopes between 2,300 – 3,600 m. Fairly common in central Kashmir, not so common in Pakistan.