Herbs, perennial, 40-80 cm tall. Roots thick, woody. Stems ribbed. Leaves with 2 leaflets; petiole with angular wings; leaflet blades obliquely ovate to oblong, 2-4 × 1.5-3 cm, apex slightly rounded. Flowers axillary, paired. Pedicel 5-12 mm. Sepals 5, ca. 8 mm, 3 broadly ovate and ca. 5 mm wide, 2 ovate. Stamens 10, 5 longer than others; scales as long as half of filament or longer. Capsule cylindric, 2.5-3.8 × 0.7-1 cm, erect, 5-angular, both ends obtuse. Seeds numerous, black, ovoid, ca. 3 × 2.5 mm, surface and margin smooth. Fl. May, fr. Jul-Sep.