Herbs biennial, rarely annual, glabrous. Root narrowly conic. Stem erect, branching above, base without remnant sheaths. Leaf blades triangular, 2–3-pinnate; ultimate segments ovate to linear, toothed or lobed. Umbels loose compound, terminal and axillary; bracts few or absent; bracteoles several. Calyx teeth obsolete. Petals yellow or yellowish-green, obovate, apex emarginate, narrow, inflexed. Stylopodium low-conic; styles short, spreading. Fruit ovoid-oblong, slightly flattened laterally, mericarps subrounded in cross section, commissure constricted, glabrous, shiny; ribs 5, filiform, prominent; vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. Seed face plane. Carpophore 2-cleft to base or to middle.

About two species: native in S and W Europe; cultivated worldwide; one species (introduced) in China.

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