Plants 30–80 cm high. Rootstock to 2 cm thick. Basal leaves numerous; petioles flattened, with ovate sheaths; leaf blades oblong-ovate to broad-ovate, 14–35 × 6–8(–18) cm, 2-pinnate; pinnae 3–4 pairs, petiolulate; ultimate segments linear-lanceolate or cuneate-obovate, 3-lobed at apex, 2–5 × 0.5–2.5 cm. Leaves reduced upwards. Umbels numerous, ca. 6 cm across; peduncles 2–5 cm; rays 5–7, 3–5 cm; bracteoles 4–6, ca. 3 mm, acuminate; umbellules 4–5-flowered. Petals ca. 1.5 mm. Fruit 4–5 × 2–3 mm, tuberculate when young, becoming smooth when mature.

Analgesic and diaphoretic (root)

Flora of China

The root decoction is used for treating headaches, fever, and aversion to cold, swollen and sore throat, German measles, pruritus, and other skin problems, rheumatism, arthralgia, joint pain, muscle spasms, tetanus with opisthotonos, lockjaw, convulsions, and spasms, trembling of the hands and feet, lockjaw, and migraine headache.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 570, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.