Herbs, perennial, 40-60 cm tall; stems and petioles of radical leaves attenuate to filiform underground base. Storage roots fascicled, spindle-shaped, 3-5 cm × to 5 mm. Stems simple, erect, with 2 or 3 leaves in upper 1/2. Radical leaves not seen. Cauline leaves: lower petiole 1-2 cm, upper leaves sessile; blade glaucous abaxially, ovate, 6-9 × 4-6 cm, tripinnate, or uppermost leaf smaller and less divided; ultimate segments narrowly lanceolate, acute. Raceme lax, 10-15-flowered; bracts rhombic-ovate to narrowly lanceolate, (10-)15-19 mm, entire, long acuminate; lowermost bract often deeply pectinate-divided. Pedicel 10-20 mm, recurved in fruit. Sepals orbicular, ca. 1.5 × 2 mm, finely dentate. Corolla yellow, inner petals with contrasting dark purple apex; outer petals very broad at base, narrowed to subacute apex, with very broad, 3(-4) mm rounded crest much overtopping apex; upper petal 21-22 mm; crest long decurrent on spur; spur slightly tapering to obtuse apex, 10-11 mm, thick; nectary ca. 1/3 as long as spur; lower petal ca. 15 mm (including crest), distal part reflexed, basal 1/2 broadly saccate; inner petals 11-12 mm. Ovules ca. 20, in 2 rows; style 4-5 mm; stigma square, emarginate, median 2 apical papillae narrow, lateral marginal papillae broad, indistinct; geminate papillae sublateral and on well-developed basal lobes. Fruit not seen. Fl. around Jun.
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