Plant: perennial, 3-8 dm, finely hairy; roots thick, clustered, licorice-scented; Stem branched, leafy

Leaves: petiole 5-20 cm; blade 1-2 dm, ovate to triangular-ovate, 2-3-ternate, leaflets 2-8 cm, ovate, serrate to irregularly cut or pinnately lobed

INFLORESCENCE: umbels compound; peduncle 9-20 cm; bractlets 2-6, 2-10 mm, linear to lanceolate; rays 2-5, 3.5-12 cm, spreading-ascending; pedicels 1-5 mm

Flowers: calyx lobes 0; corolla greenish yellow; petals obovate, white, purple, or greenish yellow (white), tips narrowed; disk present; stamens 5; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 2-chambered, generally with a ± conic, persistent projection or platform on top subtending 2 free styles; styles generally < 1 mm

Fruit: 12-20 mm, oblong-fusiform, slightly compressed side-to-side, bristly to glabrous; base tapered into tail, 1-4 mm; tip tapered into beak; ribs bristly; oil tubes per rib-interval obscure; fruit axis divided in upper ½; Seed: face concave or grooved

Misc: Moist ravines, coniferous forests, woodlands; 200-2000 m.