Herbs perennial, 40–85 cm tall. Rootstock stout, terete. Stems glandular pubescent or glabrescent. Radical leaves: petiole glandular pubescent or glabrescent; leaf blade with 5–8 pairs of leaflets; petiolules 0.5–2 cm; leaflets alternate or subopposite, abaxially tinged green, adaxially green, ovate, elliptic, or long elliptic, 1–3 × 0.8–2.5 cm, abaxially sparsely pilose, adaxially glabrous, base cordate to truncate, margin obtusely or acutely incised serrate, apex rounded; middle cauline leaves: stipules falcate, margin incised serrate. Inflorescences capitate, lax after anthesis; bracts lanceolate, margin cilliate; flowers long pedicellate at base of inflorescence, gradually becoming subsessile toward apex. Hypanthium abaxially pilose. Sepals 4, tinged green. Stamens 2; filaments filiform, nearly equaling sepals. Style slender; stigma dilated, papillate, much branched. Fruiting hypanthium hardened, with 4 longitudinal, winged ribs; sepals persistent; style deciduous. Fl. and fr. Jun–Aug.
Home