Herbs, perennial. Root rather thick. Stem inconspicuous or short-caulescent, base clothed with fibrous remnant sheaths. Basal leaves numerous, rosulate, petiolate, sheathing; blade 2-pinnate. Umbels compound, primary umbel terminal; bracts and bracteoles numerous, linear or linear-lanceolate, with short hairs, margins broadly white-membranous; rays stout, angular; umbellules many-flowered; lateral umbels smaller. Calyx teeth conspicuous, acute-triangular. Petals white, midrib violet, obovate, base cuneate, apex notched with a narrow incurved lobule, pubescent abaxially. Stylopodium short-conical; styles ca. 2 × stylopodium, reflexed. Fruit ovoid, slightly compressed dorsally; ribs thick-obtuse, very prominent, irregularly denticulate especially along ribs, denticles stiff-membranous or with stiffly scarious-processes and hairs; furrows narrow; vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. Seed face plane. Carpophore 2-cleft to base.

Three species: high-altitude C Asia and Siberia; two species in China.

(Authors: Pu Fading (溥发鼎 Pu Fa-ting); Mark F. Watson)