Herbs, biennial or shortly perennial, slender. Root stout, long-conic. Stem hollow, erect, much-branched above, conspicuously purple-spotted. Leaves petiolate, narrowly sheathing at base; blade 2–3-pinnate, finely dissected. Umbels numerous, terminal and lateral on dichotomous branches; bracts and bracteoles several, often reflexed; rays numerous, ascending; rays numerous, spreading widely. Calyx teeth obsolete. Petals white or yellowish white, obovate or obcordate, apex incurved. Stylopodium low-conic, styles short, reflexed. Fruit ovoid or broad-ovoid, slightly flattened laterally; ribs 5, prominent, all ridged to very narrowly sinuate-winged; vittae small, numerous, completely encircling the seed, usually broken down in mature fruit. Seed face deeply concave or sulcate. Carpophore 2-cleft, at least to middle.

About six species: native to the Mediterranean region, widely naturalized in the N temperate zone; one species (introduced) in China.

(Authors: Pan Zehui (潘泽惠); Mark F. Watson)