Herbs perennial, usually pubescent throughout. Taproot stout, long-cylindrical, woody. Stem sparingly branched from base, erect or caespitose, base often woody, densely clothed in fibrous or tough remnant sheaths. Leaves mostly basal, petiolate, petioles slender, base sheathing; blade 1–2-pinnate; ultimate segments entire or pinnatifid. Leaves rapidly reduced upwards, stem upper parts almost leafless. Inflorescence branching, umbels compound, lax, terminal; bracts few, linear, inconspicuous, or absent; rays few, (2–)3–6(–10), unequal, widely divergent; bracteoles 4–10, linear. Calyx teeth minute, triangular, often obscured by dense hairs. Petals white or yellowish-white, rarely purple, ovate or obovate, base cuneate, apex incurved, notched; usually abaxially pubescent. Ovary densely pubescent. Stylopodium low-conic, margin undulate; styles long, reflexed. Fruit oblong-ovoid, slightly laterally compressed, constricted at commissure, rounded at base, densely white-pubescent; ribs 5, filiform, often obscured by the hairs; vittae large, 1 in each furrow, 2 on commissure. Seed face plane or slightly concave. Carpophore 2-parted.

The generic boundaries between Eriocycla and Seseli (and the Mediterranean genera Deverra de Candolle and Pituranthos Viviani) are problematic and need further research. Recent work by Russian authors suggests that Eriocycla should be included within Seseli (see Seseli for comments and a synopsis of an alternative classification).

Six to eight species: N Iran, W Himalayan region to N and W China; three species (two endemic) in China.

(Authors: Pu Fading (溥发鼎 Pu Fa-ting); Mark F. Watson, Michael G. Pimenov, Eugene V. Kljuykov)