Ligusticum L.

Herbs perennial. Root cylindrical or fusiform; rootstock thick or slightly inflated. Stem erect, striate, base usually clothed in fibrous remnant sheaths. Basal and lower leaves petiolate, sheathing; blade 1–3-pinnate or ternate-2–4-pinnate. Cauline leaves gradually reduced upward or absent. Inflorescence branching, rarely unbranched; umbels compound, terminal and lateral, or only terminal; bracts few, usually caducous or absent; rays often slightly incurved, convergent in fruit; bracteoles lanceolate or linear, entire or apex 2–3-lobed or 1–3-pinnate. Calyx teeth conspicuous, shorter than to subequal the stylopodium or obsolete. Petals white, purple, violet or pale pinkish, apex notched with incurved apical lobule. Stylopodium conic; styles spreading or erect in flower, reflexed after flowering. Fruit oblong or oblong-ovoid, dorsally compressed; ribs all prominent or lateral ribs narrowly winged; vittae (1–)2–5 in each furrow, 2–10 on commissure. Seed face plane, rarely slightly concave. Carpophore 2-cleft to base.