Herbs perennial, 13-50 cm tall. Rhizomes thick, scaly. Leaves all basal; petiole 2-7 cm, sheathing base glabrous at margin; leaf blade obovate or narrowly so to subelliptic, rarely broadly obovate to suboblong, 5.5-16 × 3-9 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous and glandular pitted, base cuneate, margin sinuate-dentate to entire, apex obtuse. Inflorescence cymose, 3-23 cm; branches and pedicels densely long glandular hairy. Hypanthium densely long glandular hairy. Sepals narrowly ovate, 6.5-7 × 2-4 mm, leathery, abaxially densely long glandular hairy, margin glabrous, apex obtuse. Petals purple, broadly ovate, 1-1.7 cm × 7-7.8 mm, veins many, base narrowed into a claw 2-2.5 mm, apex obtuse or retuse. Stamens 6-11 mm. Ovary ovoid, 6.7-7.5 mm; styles 2, 5.3-7.5 mm. Fl. May-Oct. 2n = 34.
On rocks and open slopes; at elevations from 3,600-4,700 metres in the Himalayas. Forests, scrub, alpine meadows and alpine rock crevices; at elevations from 2,700-4,800 metres in western China.
Can be grown by divisions or seedlings. Seeds needs stratification.
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