Stems erect, 12-40 cm, glabrous or sparsely pilose, each with 3-20 flowers. Roots dimorphic, some filiform, 0.2-0.5 mm thick and some with tuberous bases 1-2.5 mm thick. Basal leaves persistent, blades reniform, undivided or innermost 3-parted, 1.1-2.8 × 1.5-3.8 cm, base cordate or truncate, margins crenate with more than 5 rounded teeth, apex rounded or rounded-obtuse. Flowers: pedicels glabrous; receptacle glabrous or very sparsely pilose; sepals 2-4 × 1.5-3 mm, abaxially glabrous or sparsely pilose, hairs colorless; petals 5-7, 4-6.5 × 1.5-3 mm; nectary scale glabrous. Heads of achenes globose or ovoid, 3-6 × 3-5 mm; achenes 1.4-1.7 × 1-1.3 mm, glabrous; beak slender, straight, 0.2-0.6 mm.

Flowering spring (Mar-May). Woods and grasslands; 50-300 m; Ala., Ark., Ill., Mo., Okla., Tenn.