Perennial, 5-30 cm high, with a tuberous rootstock. Radical leaves 1-2, with glabrous petioles, ternate, segments sessile or cuneate at base, usually shallowly trifid, lobes crenate-dentate with a few rather wide teeth. Scape glabrous, papillose in upper part. Involucral leaves 3, obovate, undivided or shallowly trifid, sparingly appressed pilose or glabrous. Flowers 1-3, on comparatively long pedicels bearing an involucel of two small leaves (1.8-4 cm in diameter). Sepals 5, ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, upto 15 mm long, acute or obtuse, white, pink or dull violet-purplish. Anthers usually purple (rarely yellow). Carpels densely hairy, styles purple, about as long as the mature achenes.

Fl. Per.: May.

Lectotype: Western Turkestan, near Uratyube, 4-5000', E. Regel.

Chitral: A-7 Mastuj, 7500', rock ledges, Stainton 2479 (RAW), Baluchistan: D-4 nr. Quetta, V. Parkash 16419 (RAW), Hanna lake, Sultanal Abedin 4643 (KUH).

Distribution: Tadzhikistan, Pamir-Alai, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir.

Confused with Anemone biflora DC. by many authors, from which it is easily distinguished by the sessile to cuneate segments of the leaves and the predominantly dull purplish colour of the flowers.

In Pakistan, the species seems to be quite rare.