Norwegian cinquefoil is usually an annual but may be a short-lived perennial. It produces a basal rosette of leaves from a
taproot, then a green or red stem growing erect up to about in maximum length, and branching in its upper parts. The leaves are stalked and are either divided into five leaflets, or have three leaflets with the terminal leaflet being divided into three lobes. The basal leaves have narrow, sharp-tipped
stipules while the upper leaves have elliptical stipules which are longer than the leaf stalks. Each leaflet is up to long and is widely lance-shaped with toothed edges. The
inflorescence is a
cyme of several flowers. Each flower has five rounded yellow petals no more than long inside a calyx of hairy, pointed
sepals with reddish tips. There are twenty
stamens, a separate
gynoecium and many
pistils. The calyx lengthens after flowering and the fruit is a cluster of pale brown
achenes. ==Distribution and habitat==