Cardamine calthifolia H. Léveillé, Bull. Acad. Géog. Bot. 24: 281. 1914. TYPE: China, Yunnan, valley of Kiao-me-ti, 300 m, E. E. Maire s.n. (holotype, E!; isotypes, E!, P!).
Herbs, perennial, sparsely pilose at least on leaves. Rhizomes stout, to 7 cm in diam., with a few stolons. Stems 11–30 cm, stout, thickest at base, erect, simple. Basal leaves fleshy, simple; petiole (3.5)6–15(–20) cm, glabrous; leaf blade reniform, (1–)1.5–3 ´ (1.5–)3–6 cm, always wider than long, glabrous, base broadly cordate, margin repand, mucronate at vein endings, apex rounded; cauline leaves 2–5, simple, petiolate or rarely uppermost subsessile; petiole (0.3–)1–3.5 cm, base not auriculate or rarely with minute auricles to 0.3 ´ 0.3 mm; leaf blade reniform, 1–2.5 ´ 1.5–4 cm, base cordate, margin dentate-repand and mucronate at vein endings. Racemes ebracteate; flowering pedicels 1–2 cm, divaricate, straight, glabrous, stoutish. Sepals ovate or oblong, 2.5–4 ´ 1.5–2 mm, glabrous, margin membranous, base of lateral pair saccate; petals violet, deep magenta, or rarely pale lavender or white, obovate, 7–10 ´ 3.5–5 mm; median filament pairs 3.5–5 mm, lateral pair 2–3.5 mm; anthers oblong, 0.9–1.1 mm. Fruits and seeds not seen.
Flowering: Mar–Apr.
Habitat: sShady wet places, moist stony pastures.
Elevation: 2400-3000 m.
Distribution: China (Guangdong, Sichuan,Yunnan), Myanmar.