Swertia patens Burkill, Perennials 10-15 cm tall. Roots 3-4 mm in diam., fibrous. Stems ascending, 5-7-cespitose, subquadrangular, narrowly winged and papillate on angles, simple. Leaves mostly basal, crowded in a rosette, short petiolate; leaf blade narrowly spatulate to oblanceolate, 1.5-6.5 cm × 4-5 mm including petiole, base narrowed, apex obtuse, midvein distinct. Stem leaves sessile or short petiolate; leaf blade narrowly linear, narrowly elliptic, or spatulate, 1.5-3.8 cm × 2-4 mm, base narrowed, apex acuminate to obtuse, midvein distinct. Cymes terminal and axillary, few flowered. Flowers 4-merous. Pedicel erect, 1-2.2 cm, thick. Calyx lobes green, bractlike, base rounded to cordate, apex acuminate, unequal; 2 lobes ovate-lanceolate, 2-2.8 cm × 5-9 mm; other 2 lobes lanceolate, 1-2 cm × to 5 mm; veins 3-7, indistinct. Corolla white, with purple veins, 2.5-3 cm in diam., tube 1-2 mm; lobes ovate-oblong, 1.3-1.5 cm × to 6 mm, apex obtuse and mucronate.