Subshrubs. Flowering stems many, spreading, forming dense, compact tufts 5–6 cm tall, covered with peeling, dark brown bark and with relics of dead leaves in upper part, villous and glandular pubescent throughout. Radical leaves many; petiole 0.5–1.2 cm; leaf blade 1.5–2.5 cm, once 3-parted; lateral segments entire or 2-or 3-sect; ultimate segments linear. Inflorescence cymose and 3–5-flowered or flower solitary; bracts and bracteoles linear, 1–2 mm. Flowers 4–5 mm in diam.; pedicel 3–5 mm. Hypanthium green or red-purple, tubular, 3–4 mm. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, shorter than or nearly equaling hypanthium, abaxially villous and glandular pubescent. Petals purple or violet, obovate to broadly ovate, 4–5 mm, glabrous. Stamens shorter than petals. Carpels 6–10, free. Achenes brown, cylindric, ca. 2 mm, glabrous. Fl. Jun–Aug, fr. Sep–Nov.