Plants 2-3 m tall. Stem stout with ridges and grooves. Leaves 2-3-pinnate; leaflets sessile, lanceolate to oval, 4-15 cm long, 2-8 cm broad; bases of upper leaflets decurrent; leaf bases sheathing. Peduncles 8-15 cm long. Involucre of small linear bracts. Rays 15-40, stout. Pedicels 5-8 mm long. Involucel of long linear bractlets. Flowers numerous, white. Calyx teeth obsolete. Fruit oblong to sub-quadrate, 6-8 mm long, 3-4 mm broad; dorsal and intermediate ridges prominent, lateral winged; furrows multi-vittate; commissure 4-6-vittate. Inner seed face concave.

Type: Syntypes from Kashmir and Sikkim.

Distribution: Himalayas in India and Pakistan, USSR, Europe.

A plant of inner Himalayan ranges from 25-4000 m. The extract from the roots and fruits is used in medicine.