Herbs biennial or perennial, essentially glabrous. Rhizome tuberous, globose or conic, roots fibrous. Stem erect, ribbed. Basal leaves petiolate, sheathed at base; blade broad-triangular or broad-ovate, 1–3-ternate-pinnate; ultimate segments of distal leaves often linear. Umbels compound, terminal and lateral; bracts and bracteoles often absent; rays unequal. Calyx teeth obsolete or conspicuous, triangular. Petals white or purple-red, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, apex long-linear or long-aristate, rarely acute or obtuse, stated petal lengths include the apex. Stylopodium depressed or low-conic; styles short, reflexed. Fruit ovoid, broad-ovoid, ovoid-oblong or oblong-elliptic, slightly flattened laterally, glabrous; ribs 5, filiform; vittae 1–3 in each furrow, 2–4 on commissure. Seed face plane. Carpophore usually bifid or 2-parted.

This is a taxonomically complex genus with often indistinct species boundaries and problematic generic delimitation with Sinocarum (see the taxonomic note under that genus).

About 25 species: high-altitude Sino-Himalayan region from E Nepal to SW China; 20 species (14 endemic) in China.

(Authors: Pan Zehui (潘泽惠); Mark F. Watson, Ingrid Holmes-Smith)