Spread-wide saposhnikovia

Glabrous, much-branched, perennial herb, arising from branched, annular, tuberous rootstock up to 2 cm thick, with crown surrounded by fibrous, remnant, sheathing bases of petioles. Height 30–100 cm. Basal leaves numerous, petioles flattened with ovate sheaths, 2–6.5 cm in length; leaf-blades oblong-ovate to broad-ovate, up to 35 x 18 cm (usually smaller), bi- to tripinnatifid, pinnae 3–4 pairs, petiolulate, terminal lobes lanceolate, 3-lobed at apex. Upper leaves simplified with sheathing petioles, reduced upwards, often absent, leading to aphyllous branching. Umbels compound, devoid of involucral bracts, rays 5–9, bracteoles 4–5, pedicels 4–9, flowers white or yellow, petals circa 1.5 mm. Mericarps broadly ovate to oblong, flat, up to 5 x 3mm, tuberculate when young but becoming smooth at maturity, lateral ribs winged. Flowering August–September and fruiting September–October.

Saposhnikovia divaricata is found, in China, in the provinces of Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hunan, Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning. The plant also occurs in Russia, Mongolia, Korea and Japan. It grows in grassy and stony slopes at 400–800 m (1,300–2,600 ft), and the margins of rice paddies, roadsides and waste places.

The roots and seeds of Saposhnikovia divaricata contain a variety of phytochemicals under basic research, including furocoumarins, furanochromones, polyacetylenes, hyperosides, and terpenes. The major components of the essential oil from roots of S. divaricata are caryophyllene oxide, sabinene, α- and β-pinene, myrtenal, myrtenol, α-terpineol, p-cymene, and nonanoic acid.