Alpine Meadow Rue is a small perennial herb with mostly simple and nearly leafless stems that are 3-18 cm tall, arising from slender rhizomes. Each leaf has a slender stalke and is double-pinnately divided into broad, 3 lobed segments that are 3-8 mm long. Leaflets are smooth or occasionally covered with a thin, bluish wax. The flowers have both anthers and pistils and are borne on short, nodding stalks in a narrow, terminal inflorescence. The 5 small sepals are purplish and fall soon after opening. There are no real petals. The 2-4 achenes are narrowly elliptic in outline, 2-4 mm long, and prominently ribbed. Flowering: May-June.