Herbs, perennial, stout, glabrous. Rootstock swollen, with transverse air chambers, roots fascicled. Stems tall, erect, hollow, branched above, striate. Leaves petiolate, sheath narrow, clasping, membranous; leaf blade (1–)2–3-pinnate; ultimate segments narrow, linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, serrate or dentate. Umbels compound, lax, terminal or lateral; bracts absent or few, inconspicuous; rays numerous, long, slender, ascending-spreading; bracteoles numerous, narrow, longer or shorter than the flowers. Calyx teeth conspicuous, ovate-triangular. Petals white or greenish-white, obovate or suborbicular, apex narrow, inflexed. Stylopodium depressed; styles slender, reflexed when mature. Fruit ovoid-globose, rounded at both ends or base cordate, flattened laterally, glabrous; ribs 5, thick, corky; vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. Seed face plane or slightly concave. Carpophore 2-fid.

About three species: N temperate zone; one species in China.

(Authors: She Menglan (佘孟兰 Sheh Meng-lan); Mark F. Watson)