三辐柴胡 san fu chai hu

Bupleurum ranunculoides Linnaeus var. triradiatum (Adams ex Hoffmann) Regel; Diaphyllum triradiatum (Adams ex Hoffmann) Hoffmann.

Plants 7–20(–25) cm, perennial. Rhizome dark brown, creeping, little-branched. Stem erect, tinged purple at base, base without fibrous remnant sheaths. Basal leaves several, linear or lanceolate, 2.5–10 × 0.3–1 cm, 3–5-nerved, base tapering, apex obtuse-acute. Cauline leaves few, 1–4, sessile; blade narrow-ovate, 1.5–6 × 0.3–0.7 cm, base obtuse, clasping. Umbels 1–3, 2–5 cm across; bracts 1–3, ovate or broad-ovate, 5–15 × 4–14 mm, unequal, shorter than rays, 7–19-nerved; rays 2–3, erect, 1–2.5 cm; bracteoles 5–8, 3–7 × 2–6 mm, yellowish, reddish-tinged or purplish-tinged, distinctly longer than flowers, base subrounded, apex obtuse or acute; umbellules 8–15 mm across; flowers 18–26, crowded; pedicels 2–3 mm. Petals yellow or abaxially purplish, apex obtuse, inflexed. Stylopodium low-conic or discoid, dark yellow. Fruit ellipsoid, brownish-red, 2.5–3 × 1.5–2 mm; ribs prominent; vittae 1–3 in each furrow, 2–4 on commissure. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep.

Forest margins, alpine meadows, sunny slopes, rock crevices; 2300–4900 m. Qinghai, W Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, NW Yunnan [?N Japan, Russia].

This species has reputed medicinal value.