宽萼岩风 kuan e yan feng

Seseli laticalycinum (R. H. Shan & M. L. Sheh) Pimenov.

Plants 34–70 cm. Caudex simple. Stem solitary, multi-dichotomously branched, solid, finely grooved, glabrous, scabrous under umbels. Petioles somewhat flattened, adaxially shallowly grooved; blade broadly ovate, 9–12 × 4–6 cm, 2–3-pinnate; pinnae 3–4 pairs, remote, petiolulate except for terminal or apical divisions; pinnules 3-parted, sessile; ultimate segments obovate, 10–15 × 5–10 mm, base cuneate, distally 3-lobed, apex subtruncate, mucronate, both surfaces glabrous, more or less glaucous. Synflorescence paniculate, branches short, densely puberulous; umbels 0.5–1.5 cm across; bracts 2–3, ovate-lanceolate, ca. 1.5 × 1 mm, scarious; rays 2–4, 1.5–4 mm, slightly unequal, puberulous; bracteoles 4–5, unequal, lanceolate, longer than flowers; umbellules 3–6-flowered; pedicels ca. 1 mm. Calyx teeth triangular-ovate, ca. 0.7 mm. Petals white, abaxially densely puberulous. Young fruit elliptic, slightly dorsally compressed, 1.2–1.5 mm across (mature fruit unknown); ribs almost equal, shortly keeled; vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. Fl. and fr. Aug–Sep.

Mountain slopes; ca. 1600 m. Hebei, W Henan (Lingbao, Songxian), SW Shanxi (Ruicheng).

This species is used in Shanxi as a regional substitute, known as “shui fang feng,” for the traditional Chinese medicine “fang feng” (Saposhnikovia divaricata).

Two of us (Pimenov & Kljuykov, FOC 14: 130. 2005) treat this as Seseli laticalycinum.