Plants 50–100 cm. Stems slender, 1–2, rigid, often purplish red, nodes slightly swollen, paniculate-branched, lower branches alternate, upper branches verticillate. Leaf blade ovate, ternate-3–4-pinnatisect; ultimate segments ovate, 5–10 mm, densely hispid, sub-leathery, margins toothed or lobed. Cauline leaves reduced upwards to small, broad, leathery ovate-lanceolate sheaths. Terminal umbel sessile or short-pedunculate, lateral umbels 1–2(–5), exceeding terminal; umbels 4–6 cm across; bracts absent; rays 3–10; bracteoles squamose, deciduous; umbellules 5–12-flowered. Stylopodium low-conic, base dilated. Fruit ellipsoid, 5–10 × 2–5 mm; lateral ribs narrowly winged; vittae 1 in each furrow, 4–8 on commissure, large. Fl. and fr. May–Jul.