Stems erect, 2.5-7.5 cm, glabrous, each with 1-4 flowers. Roots tuberous, 2.5-5 mm thick. Basal leaves persistent, blades obdeltate in outline, 1-2.8 cm, segments 0.2-0.6 cm wide, deeply divided into 3 oblanceolate segments with lateral segments often again lobed or parted, base long-attenuate, margins entire, apex rounded. Flowers: pedicels glabrous; receptacle glabrous or sparsely pilose; sepals 3-7 × 1.5-3 mm, abaxially glabrous; petals 5, 6-12 × 2-5 mm; nectary scale glabrous. Heads of achenes globose to cylindric, 3.5-8 × 3-7 mm; achenes 1.1-1.4 × 0.8-1.1 mm, finely pubescent; beak subulate, straight, 0.2-0.8 mm.

Flowering spring-summer (Apr-Jul). Dry, open slopes, often around persistent snowbanks; 1700-3000 m; Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Utah, Wyo.