Herbs, perennial, glabrous throughout. Stem solitary, erect or scrambling, hollow. Basal leaves long-petiolate, 2–3-pinnatisect, petiole sheathing; ultimate segments ovate or obovate. Inflorescence loose compound umbels, peduncles terminal and axillary, many-branched, lateral umbels usually exceeding central; bracts and bracteoles absent, or occasionally bracts 1, deciduous; rays usually slender, unequal. Calyx teeth minute, triangular. Petals white, purplish or dull cream, obovate, apex broadly inflexed, costa red-brown, conspicuous, base clawed. Stylopodium conic or low-conic, margin slightly undulate. Fruit oblong or ellipsoid, strongly dorsally compressed; dorsal ribs obscure or very slightly raised, lateral ribs broadly winged, wings thin to corky, margin often incurved; vittae 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. Seed face plane. Carpophore 2-cleft.

Generic relationships between Angelica, Arcuatopterus, Ferula, Peucedanum sensu lato, etc. continue to be explored, with recent results indicating that several Himalayan taxa should now be included within Arcuatopterus, a genus once thought to be endemic to SW China.

Three to five species: E Himalayas and SW China: three species (two endemic) in China.

(Authors: She Menglan (佘孟兰 Sheh Meng-lan); Mark F. Watson)