Carum purpureum Franchet, Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, sér. 8, 6: 27. 1894; Pimpinella markgrafiana Fedde ex H. Wolff.

Plants perennial, 30–80 cm, glabrous (pubescent only along abaxial leaf veins and at base of umbels and umbellules). Root cylindrical, 5–20 × 0.5–1 cm. Stem 1–2-branched. Basal petioles 3–25 cm; blade triangular-ovate in outline, 2-ternate, or 1–2-pinnate; pinnae 2–3 pairs; ultimate segments ovate or oblong-ovate, 1–5 × 0.5–3.5 cm, margins serrate or incised. Cauline leaves similar to basal, 1-pinnate or 3-lobed, lobes lanceolate. Umbels 3–6 cm across; bracts 1–2, linear or like uppermost leaf, 8–15 mm, or absent; rays 10–17, 2–6.5 cm, unequal, pubescent; bracteoles 2–3, linear, 3–6 mm, ca. equal to pedicels; umbellules 9–11 mm across, 10–20-flowered; pedicels 1.5–3.5 mm, unequal. Calyx teeth conspicuous, linear-lanceolate, 0.3–0.8 mm, unequal. Petals purple, oblong-ovate or broad-ovate, base shortly clawed, apex mucronate, without incurved lobule. Stylopodium short conic, or flat; styles 0.5–1.5 × stylopodium, spreading. Fruit ovoid, ca. 1.7 × 1.1 mm, base cordate, surface glabrous; vittae 3 in each furrow, 4 on commissure. Seed face slightly concave. Fl. Jul–Aug, fr. Sep–Oct.

Forests, among shrubs, grasslands, alpine meadows; 3000–3800 m. NW Yunnan [N Myanmar].