Authors: DC.
Evergreen monocarp to 2m tall but often somewhat less. Basal rosette leaves 30-50cm long, deeply pinnately lobed, each lobe usually cut into blunt segments, somewhat yellowish-green with reddish bristly hairs. Flowers four-petalled, usually red or purple, less commonly blue or white, 5-8cm across, long petioled, one to seven on branches arranged racemosely, summer. Nepal to south-western China, on open slopes at 3000-4500m. Easily grown in fertile soil. Freely crosses with M. regia and M. paniculata and many plants in cultivation are likely to be of this origin except for the later-blooming blue form. Also crosses with M. latifolia = M. X decora.
