Herbs perennial. Roots stout, taproot elongate or cylindrical. Stems erect, base clothed with fibrous remnant sheaths. Basal leaves 2–3-pinnate or ternate-2-pinnate. Stem leaves gradually reduced upwards, becoming sessile on expanded sheaths. Umbels compound, terminal and lateral; bracts entire, 2–3-lobed at apex, or 1–2-pinnate, or absent; rays numerous; bracteoles usually similar to bracts. Calyx teeth evident, linear-lanceolate, equaling or exceeding the stylopodium, unequal. Petals white or pinkish, obovate, base cuneate, apex notched with small incurved lobule (except L. weberbaurianum). Stylopodium conic; styles ca. 2 × stylopodium, reflexed after flowering. Fruit oblong-ovoid, ovoid or suborbicular, compressed dorsally, glabrous; dorsal ribs thickened or narrowly winged; lateral ribs broad-winged (2 × dorsal wings); vittae 1(–4) in dorsal furrows, 1–4 in lateral furrows, 2–8 on commissure. Seed face plane. Carpophore 2-cleft to base.

See the taxonomic comment under Ligusticum.

About eight species: Asia, Europe; three species (two endemic) in China.

(Authors: Pu Fading (溥发鼎 Pu Fa-ting); Mark F. Watson)