Heracleum abyssinicum (Boiss.) C.Norman

Perennial, 0.2–1.8(–2.5 when growing in and supported by bushes) m., with fistular, sulcate-striate, densely pilose stems; stems 3–8 mm. wide below, simple or frequently with one or more long, ascending branches from the lower half upwards, branches with much-reduced leaves.. Basal leaves several, ± narrowly oblong in outline, ± 8–23 × 2–8 cm., simply pinnate with 3–7 pairs of roundish to ovate or broadly deltoid, 1–4.5 × 0.8–5 cm. irregularly incised-dentate to subpinnatifid leaflets, teeth blunt to subacute, mucronate; indumentum ± generally distributed over both surfaces but densest on the veins and margins; sheaths striate, rather narrow, ± 1.5–3 × 0.8–1 cm.; petiole ± 4–11 cm.; median stem leaves shortly petiolate or sessile on the sheaths, leaflets similar or more sharply dentate and/or with narrower segments; sheaths not very broad and inflated, ± 1–2.5 × 0.8–1 cm.; uppermost leaves much reduced, often with a very small lamina; sheaths small, up to ± 2 × 0.8 cm.. Umbels several, on sulcate peduncles 2.5–12 cm. long; rays (4–)6–18, sulcate, densely pilose, 1.5–6 cm.; involucre usually present but sometimes very small, of ± 3–6 narrowly linear or broader bracts mostly ± 3–10 mm. long; partial umbels ± 15–35-flowered, pedicels 3–10 mm., commonly furnished with dense and broad-based tuberculiform hairs and fewer, clearly marked off, longer glandular hairs, sometimes with short tuberculiform hairs only; involucels of 4–9 linear bracteoles 2–7 mm. in length, rarely exceeding the pedicels in young fruit.. Calyx-teeth narrowly triangular to linear, sometimes persistent in fruit, ± 0.5 mm.. Flowers white or creamy, the outermost petals of the outer partial umbels slightly radiate, cordate, 1.5–3 mm.; inner petals oblong-obovate with an incurved tip, ± 1.25 mm.. Fruit obovate to oblong-obovate, 7–12 × 5–8 mm., thinly pilose throughout; stylopodia conical, not exceeding the apical notch of the fruit; styles arcuate-recurved, 1.5–2 mm.; vittae 4 dorsally, 2 on the commissure, all reaching to near the base or the commissural somewhat shorter.