Souliea vaginata (Maxim.) Franch. in J. de Bot. 68 - 70. 1898. Isopyrum vaginata Maxim. in Fl. Tangut. 1: 18, t. 30, ff. 1 - 10. 1896. Coptis ospriocarpa Bruehl in Ann. R. Bot. Gard. Calc. 5: 89. 1896.

Stems erect, at first 10 - 15 cm high, becoming up to 60 cm long in fruits, glabrous, reddish, surrounded at base by 2 large (2 - 4 cm long) sheathing membranous scales. Leaves long-petiolate, 3-ternatisect, 15 - 20 cm across, pale beneath; primary segments obovate or rhombic or trapezoid, pinnate into acutely toothed leaflets. Flowers in a Simple terminal raceme. Sepals obovate, 5 - 6 x 3 - 4 mm, white, tinged purple. Petals smaller than sepals, white, suborbicular, ca 3 mm across. Follicles oblong, cylindric, 3.5 - 4 x 0.4 cm, stipitate, prominently veined; seeds numerous, ovoid; testa not crusted and without wings.

Fl. & Fr. April - Oct.

Distrib. India: E. Himalayas, broad-leaved forests and forest clearings, in damp places, 2800 - 4000 m. Sikkim.

Bhutan and W. China.