Plant up to 45 cm tall, puberulous to pubescent. Rhizome with many fibrous roots. Stem solitary or 3-5. Radical leaves deciduous at fruiting time, more often lyrately pinnatisect than entire; the entire leaves ovate-oblong; lateral lobes 1 or 2 pairs, 1-2.5 cm X 0.7-1.6 cm, the terminal lobe ovate-oblong or rhomboid, 2-5.5 cm long, serrate to repand; cauline leaves similar but smaller, often crisp, yellow when dry; nodes (4)-5-7 in number. Flowers in lax, slender, dichotomous spikes. Bracts elliptic-ovate or ovate subacuminate to lanceolate, c. half the size of the fruit. Acene 2-2.5 mm long, pilose-pubescent, longer than the bracts.

Fl. Per.: July-August.

Type: Described from Kashmir.

Distribution: Afghanistan and the Himalayas in India and Pakistan.

Fairly common on rocky banks and cliffs from 1300-2800 m. There is some variation in the texture and the colour of the leaves, the shape of the leaf segments, and the number of basal stems.