A perennial plant. Caudex conical or carrot-shaped, 2.5-5 cm, 7-12 mm in diam. Stem (65-)80-150 cm, usually branched, glabrous, with leaves equally arranged along stem. Proximal cauline leaves withered at anthesis, middle ones shortly to long petiolate; petiole 3-11 cm, glabrous; leaf blade pentagonal, 9-16 × 10-20 cm, papery or subleathery, abaxially glabrous, adaxially sparsely retrorse pubescent, base cordate, 3-sect; central segment rhombic, apex acuminate, subpinnately divided or lobed; lateral segments obliquely flabellate, unequally 2-parted. Inflorescence terminal, 9-22-flowered; rachis and pedicels glabrous; proximal bracts 3-fid, others oblong or linear. Proximal pedicels 1.8-3.5(-5) cm, with 2 bracteoles at middle or below; bracteoles linear or subulate-linear, 3.5-5 × ca. 1 mm. Sepals purple-blue, abaxially sparsely retrorse pubescent or nearly glabrous; lower sepals oblong, 1.2--1.4 cm; lateral sepals 1.4--1.6(--1.7) cm; upper sepal galeate or high galeate, 1.5--2.5 cm high, shortly or long beaked, lower margin ca. 1.8 cm. Petals glabrous; limb 3--4 mm wide; lip 3--5 mm; spur incurved or subcircinate, 1--4 mm. Stamens glabrous; filaments entire or 2-denticulate. Carpels (4 or)5, glabrous. Follicles erect, (0.8-)1.2-2 cm. Seeds ca. 2.5 mm.

Alterative, anaesthetic, antiarthritic, deobstruent, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative and stimulant.

Plants For A Future

The root is used for joint pain in rheumatic or rheumatoid arthritis due to pathogenic cold and dampness, and for epigastric pain with cold sensations due to cold and also effective in dispelling wind.

Contraindicated for use during pregnancy.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 42, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.