Athamanta sibirica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 244. 1753; Seseli libanotis (Linnaeus) W. D. J. Koch subsp. sibiricum (Linnaeus) Thellung; S. libanotis var. sibiricum (Linnaeus) de Candolle; S. sibricum (Linnaeus) Garcke.

Plants 30–100(–12) cm. Caudex simple, 1–2 cm thick. Stem solitary, shallowly fluted, purplish at base. Basal leaves numerous, petioles shorter than blade, distal leaf rachis shallowly grooved; blade ovate-oblong in outline, 15–40 × 5–10 cm, pinnate to 2-pinnately parted; pinnae 8–9 pairs, sessile; pinnules ovate, rhombic or lanceolate, 15–30 × 6–15 mm, 3–5-lobed or incised-dentate, abaxially ciliate hairy along margins and veins. Umbels 7–12 cm across; bracts absent or few, linear, very small; rays (20–)35–50, 3–7 cm, unequal, hirsutulous; bracteoles 12–15, linear, 1.5–2 × ca. 0.5 mm, shorter than or equaling flowers; pedicels 1.5–5.5 mm. Calyx teeth triangular-lanceolate, ca. 0.7 mm. Petals white or pinkish, abaxially glabrous. Fruit ovoid-ellipsoid, dorsally compressed, 3–4 × 1.5–2 mm, glabrous or puberulent; vittae 1 in each furrow, 4 on commissure. Fl. and fr. Jul–Aug.

This species is used in Gansu and Shaanxi as a regional substitute for the traditional Chinese medicine “fang feng” (Saposhnikovia divaricata).

Forest margins, among shrubs, open grassy places; 1000–1400 m. Gansu, Shaanxi, Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Russia].