Plants 0.6–1.5 m high. Stem stout, glabrous or lower parts finely pubescent. Basal leaves long-petiolate; petioles 10–30 cm, sheaths ca. 4 × 1 cm; blade ovate in outline, 10–30 cm; primary pinnae long-petiolulate, ovate to elliptic-ovate, 4–12 × 2–8 cm; ultimate segments ovate or elliptic-ovate, 1–3 × 0.5–1.5 cm, serrate or toothed, abaxially sparsely pubescent. Upper cauline leaves subsessile. Umbels 2.5–8 cm wide; rays 4–15, unequal; bracteoles 5–8, ovate to lanceolate, acuminate, shorter than pedicels, pedicel apex usually surrounded by white bristles in fruit. Styles ca. 2 × as long as stylopodium. Fruit 5–10 × 1–1.5 mm. Fl. and fr. Apr–May.

The roots of both varieties have reputed medicinal value in some provinces.

Forests, valley sides, grassy places on mountain slopes; near sea level to 4500 m. Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan [N India, Japan, Kashmir, Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia; E Europe; introduced in North America].