明党参 Changium smyrnioides

  • Scientific Name: Changium smyrnioides H.Wolff
  • Ref: Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 19:315. 1924
  • Synonym: Conopodium smyrnioides (H.Wolff) M.Hiroe
  • Chinese Common Name: 明党参 míng∙dǎngshēn
  • Japanese Common Name: ミントウジン [明党参] mintōjin
  • Family: Apiaceae
  • Genus: Changium
  • Distribution: Mountain slopes in fertile areas, rock crevices; 100–300 m. Anhui, E Hubei, Jiangsu, NE Jiangxi, Zhejiang.
  • Photo: 03/26/2017, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Plants 50–100 cm. Taproot surface tawny to pale yellow, inner parts white, starchy. Branches remote and spreading, often alternate, branchlets alternate or opposite. Petiole 3–15 cm; blade 4–10 × 2–5 cm; pinnae broadly ovate, pinnatifid; ultimate segments oblong-lanceolate, 2–4 × 1–2 mm. Leaves reduced upwards, the uppermost reduced to linear or bladeless sheaths. Umbels 3–8 cm across; bracts absent or 1–3, small, ca. 1 cm; rays 4–10, 2.5–10 cm, spreading; bracteoles few, linear, 4–6 mm; umbellules 8–20-flowered. Petals pale purplish when young becoming white. Fruit ovoid-globose, 2–3 × 1.8–2.5 mm. Fl. and fr. Apr–Jun. (Flora of China)

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