It is native to the Alpine meadows of the Himalayas, in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and southwest China at altitudes of 3,700 to 4,600 m.[2] Saussurea obvallata is a perennial growing to 0.3 m (1 ft).

The flowers can be seen from July through September, after which the above-ground portions of the plant die back, becoming visible again in April.

[3][4] The Saussurea genus are named for alpine scientist Horace Bénédict de Saussure, while the specific epithet obvallata is derived from obvallatus, meaning "surrounded by wall;" in this case the flower's involucriform bracts.

[4] A postal stamp featuring the image of the flower and labeled Sassurea obvallata in binomial nomenclature and Brahma Kamal in the Devanagari script was issued by the Indian government in 1982.

The thick curved root of the plant is applied to bruises and cuts, as part of local medicine.