Plants (50–)80–150 cm, perennial. Rhizome thick, little-branched. Stem usually solitary, much-branched above, base without fibrous remnant sheaths. Leaves several, basal leaves petiolate, 8–12 cm, tinged purple; blade broadly ovate-elliptic or lanceolate, 8–17 × 2.5–5(–8) cm, 9–11-nerved. Middle leaves sessile; blade ovate or narrowly ovate. Upper leaves sessile; blade broadly lanceolate, base cordate, clasping, apex acuminate. Inflorescence much-branched, remote, umbels 3–10 cm across; bracts 1–5, lanceolate, 2–10 × 1–2 mm, unequal, yellowish-green; rays 3–9, 3–35 mm, unequal, very slender; bracteoles 5–6, ovate-lanceolate, 1.5–5 × 0.5–1.2 mm, unequal; umbellules 10–15 mm across, 5–16-flowered; pedicels long, 4–8 mm, unequal, 7–15 mm in fruit. Petals yellow or purple, short-orbicular, apex notched. Stylopodium conic, dark yellow. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid, 4–7 × 2–2.5 mm, glaucous; mericarp subrounded in cross section; ribs obscure; vittae 3–4 in each furrow, 4–6 on commissure. Fl. and fr. Aug–Oct. n = 6*.

This is one of a few toxic species in the genus that should not be used for medicinal purposes as a substitute for “chai hu.”

Forests, woods, mountain slopes, shady river banks; 200–900 m. Gansu, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol [Japan, Korea, SE Russia].