Spread-wide saposhnikovia is a perennial in the carrot family whose root is the Chinese herbal medicine fangfeng. It is the only species in its genus and grows wild in northern China, Mongolia, southern Siberia, and Korea. It does not grow wild in the United States.
Appearance
- Growth form
- A perennial herb 1–3 ft (30–100 cm) tall with a thick, branched root topped by a fringe of old, fibrous leafstalk remains.
- Leaves
- Most leaves grow from the base and are finely divided two or three times, giving them a lacy look. Upper leaves are small or missing.
- Flowers
- Tiny white flowers in umbrella-shaped clusters, with no leafy bracts beneath the clusters.
- Flowering time
- August–September in China.
- Fruit
- Flat, oval fruits up to about 0.2 in (5 mm) long with winged side ribs, ripening in September–October.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- grassy slopes
- stony slopes
- field edges and roadsides
- Range
- Native to northern and northeastern China, Mongolia, southern Siberia and the Russian Far East, and Korea. Most of the root harvest comes from northeastern China and Inner Mongolia.
- Preferred conditions
- In China it grows on sunny grassy or stony slopes, as well as rice field margins, roadsides, and waste ground.
Name and classification
- About the name
- The root is also sold as "siler." It was formerly called Ledebouriella divaricata, a name still seen on herbal products.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
- Status
- Heavy digging of the wild roots has thinned populations in parts of its range, and cultivated roots now supply much of the medicinal trade.
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- The Chinese name fangfeng means "guarding against wind."
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