山茴香 shan hui xiang

Cuminum sinense (Dunn) M. Hiroe

Plants 10–30 cm. Taproot 8–15 mm thick. Basal petioles 2.5–8.5 cm; blade 2.5–7 × 1–3.5 cm: ultimate segments linear, 4–10 × ca. 1 mm. Upper leaves reduced, 3-parted. Umbels 1.8–4 cm across; peduncles 1.5–8 cm; bracts 5–8 × ca. 1 mm; rays 7–12(–20), 1–3 cm; bracteoles 2–5 mm; umbellules many-flowered; pedicels 2–3 mm. Calyx teeth 0.6–1 × 0.2–0.5 mm, abaxially pubescent. Fruit ca. 1.3 × 0.8 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep.

Dry mountain slopes, rock crevices; 300–1000 m. S Liaoning (Zhuanghe), NE Shandong (Muping, Weihai, Yantai) [Korea].

Specimens of this species from Korea are very similar but setulose hairy throughout. Further research is needed to establish the correct taxonomic position of the Korean plants.