A glabrous, erect, perennial herb, 30 - 45 cm high with creeping root stock. Leaves 4-9 arranged in whorl; leaflets oblong - lanceolate or elliptic short stalked, to 10 cm long. Flowers solitary, terminal, short stalked, with 4-6 lanceolate, long-pointed green leaf-like perianth-segments 5 - 10 cm, and with an inner whorl of thread like yellow ro purple segments, all longer or shorter than the outer. Fruits capsule globose with yellowish brown numerous scarlet seeds.

The whole plant can be used as febrifuge, while the roots posses many healing properties. To mention a few, analgesic; antiphlogistic (removes heat), antispasmodic, antitussive, depurative, and narcotic.

Flowering and fruiting ;-April-May