3. Bupleurum aureum Fischer ex Hoffmann, Gen. Pl. Umbell. 115. 1814.
金黄柴胡 jin huang chai hu
Plants 50–120 cm, perennial. Rhizomes thin, dark brown, creeping, little-branched. Stems 1–2(–3), little-branched, lustrous, often tinged purple, base without fibrous remnant sheaths. Lowest leaves many, petiolate; blade broadly ovate or obovate, 4–6.5 × 3–5 cm, 9–11-nerved, base tapering into petiole, apex rounded or acute. Middle leaves sessile; blade lyrate, base auriculate, clasping, apex obtuse-acute. Upper leaf blades perfoliate, 12–20 × 3–5.5 cm. Uppermost leaf ovate, small, base cordate, clasping. Terminal umbel 6–10 cm across, lateral umbels 3–5 cm; bracts 3–5, ovate to ovate-orbiculate, 6–28 × 3–16 mm, unequal; rays 6–10, 1.5–6 cm, unequal; bracteoles aureate, 5–6 (–7), broadly ovate or elliptic, 4–9 × 3–8 mm, equal; umbellules 6–10 mm across, 15–20-flowered; pedicels 2–4 mm. Petals yellow, obovate, midvein dark yellow. Stylopodium low-conic or discoid, pale yellow. Fruit oblong, dark brown, 4–6 × 2.5–3 mm; ribs prominent; vittae 3 in each furrow, 4 on commissure. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep.
Open forests, forest margins, among shrubs, mountain slopes, river banks; 1300–1900 m. W Xinjiang (Tian Shan) [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia].
Two varieties occur in China. Both have reputed medicinal value.
