Herbs perennial, 30–80 cm tall. Rootstock robust, terete. Stems glabrous or subglabrous. Radical leaves: stipules yellow-brown, membranous, glabrous; petiole glabrous; leaf blade with 4–7(–9) pairs of leaflets; leaflets petiolulate, green on both surfaces, elliptic or long elliptic, rarely ovate, 1.5–7 × 1–4 cm, both surfaces glabrous, base subcordate to truncate, margin acutely incised serrate, apex rounded or subrounded; cauline leaves: stipules green, ovate or falcate-semiorbicular, leathery, margin sharply incised serrate; leaf blade resembling that of radical leaves but leaflets fewer higher up stem with base rounded to broadly cuneate. Inflorescence nodding, spicate, cylindric, rarely ellipsoid, usually 1–4 × 0.6–1.2 cm, elongated to 5 cm after anthesis, flowering from base to apex; peduncle usually pilose, later glabrescent; bracts tinged yellow-brown, ovate- lanceolate or spatulate-lanceolate, longer than flower buds before anthesis, 1–2 × as long as sepals, abaxially and at margin densely pubescent. Sepals white or slightly pinkish, ovate. Stamens 4; filaments gradually dilated from base, broadest near middle, then gradually attenuate toward apex, 2–3 × as long as sepals, narrower than anther, or sometimes little dilated. Fruiting hypanthium pilose; sepals persistent. Fl. and fr. Jul–Aug.