羌活 qiang huo

Plants 60–120 cm. Root deep brown, with clusters of rootlets; caudex elongate, often node-scarred, strongly aromatic. Leaves ternate-3-pinnate; petiole 5–12 cm; ultimate segents oblong or oblong-ovate, 2–5 × 0.5–2 cm, margins pinnatifid or laciniate-dentate, puberulous on veins and margins. Leaves reduced upwards, petioles becoming wholly sheathing. Umbels 3–13 cm across, lateral umbels frequently sterile; bracts 3–6, linear, 1.5–3 cm, deciduous; rays 7–20(–40), 2–10 cm; bracteoles 6–10, linear, 3–13 × ca. 0.5 mm, shorter or longer than flowers; umbellules many-flowered, crowded; pedicels 5–10 mm. Calyx teeth ovate-triangular, 0.3–5 mm. Petals white or greenish-white, ovate to oblong-ovate, ca. 1.5 × 1 mm, apex obtuse, inflexed. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid, 5–6 × 2.5–3.5 mm, all ribs winged, wings equal or unequal; vittae 3 in each furrow, 6 on commissure. Fl. Jul–Aug, fr. Aug–Sep.

Forest margins, scrub; 1600–5000 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang.

The rootstock and root are used in the important traditional medicine “qiang huo” (see also Notopterygium franchetii).