Plants perennial, rhizomatous; rhizomes 0.5-3 mm diam. Stems 4-10 cm. Leaves: basal leaves petiolate, sheathing at base, blade linear or oblong to narrowly spatulate, 1-10 × 0.1-1 cm, tapering to elongate petiole; cauline leaves sessile, blade narrowly lanceolate to ovate, 0.2-1.5 × 0.1-0.5 cm. Inflorescences ebracteate. Flowers 10-20 mm diam.; sepals 4-7 mm, petals pink to rich purple, 10-18 mm; ovules 6. Seeds (1-)6, 2-3 mm, smooth, elaiosome 0.5 mm. 2n = 16, ca. 40. Flowering Jun-Jul. Talus and scree slopes on serpentine; 50-2000 m; Yukon; Alaska; Eurasia (Russia).