珊瑚菜 shan hu cai

Phellopterus littoralis (F. Schmidt ex Miquel) Bentham.

Plants 20–70 cm. Taproot elongate, cylindrical or fusiform, 20–70 × 0.5–1.5 cm, yellowish white. Basal and lower leaves long-petiolate, 5–15 cm; blade broad-ovate, 1–2-ternate; ultimate segments oblong to broadly obovate, 1–6 × 0.8–3.5 cm, scabrous along nerves, incised-serrate with white-cartilaginous-margins, apex obtuse-rounded. Umbels 3–6 cm across; peduncles 2–6 cm; rays 8–16, 1–3 cm, unequal; bracteoles linear-lanceolate; pedicels 15–20. Calyx teeth 0.5–1 mm. Fruit 6–13 × 6–10 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun–Aug. n = 11*.

Sandy beaches, also cultivated in sandy soils; 50–100 m. Fujian, Guangdong, Hebei, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Taiwan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea, Russia].

The roots are used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating coughs.