The species is native to central and western China, Nepal, Myanmar, and the Assam region of India.

[2] The main root of the plant (caudex) is large and woody, with high concentrations of lignin.

The protective sepals are yellow-green or purplish in color, and are sometimes covered in dense brown hairs.

Towards their ends they are hairless, but there are many threadlike hairs towards the center of the flower where the petals meet.

It differs in the shape of the leaf blade, its longer flower stalks, and its smaller calyx tube.