升麻 sheng ma

Rhizome robust, blackish. Stem 1--2 m tall, base to 1.4 cm in diam., branched, pubescent. Leaves 2 or 3 × ternately pinnate. Proximal cauline leaves long petiolate; petiole to 15 cm; leaf blade triangular, to 30 cm wide; terminal leaflet rhombic, 2.5--10 × 1--7 cm, usually lobed, margin serrate; lateral leaflets obliquely ovate; becoming black or not when dried, abaxially sparsely white pubescent at veins, villous, or densely pubescent, adaxially glabrous. Distal cauline leaves shortly petiolate or sessile, small. Inflorescence racemose, to 45 cm, 3--20-branched, proximal branch to 15 cm; rachis densely gray glandular pubescent, intermixed gray pubescent; bracts subulate or linear, 1--15 × 0.5--2 mm, persistent or caducous. Pedicel ca. 2 mm. Flowers small, ca. 4 mm in diam. Sepals white or greenish white, obovate-orbicular, 3--4 mm. Petals broadly elliptic, ca. 3 mm, entire or 2-lobed or 2-parted to middle, nearly membranous. Stamens 4--7 mm; anthers yellow or yellowish white. Carpels 2--5, densely gray pubescent, sessile or very shortly stalked. Follicles oblong, 8--14 × 2.5--5 mm, appressed pubescent, stalk 2--3 mm. Seeds brown, ellipsoid, 2.5--3 mm, with scaly wings all around. Fl. Jul--Sep, fr. Aug--Oct. 2n = 16*, 32*.

Forests, forest margins, grassy slopes, mountains; 1700--3600 m. Gansu, W Henan, Hubei, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Russia, (Siberia), Sikkim].

This species has long been used medicinally.