Seseli condensatum (L.) Rchb. fil.

This species has reputed medicinal value (in Shanxi).

Two of us (Pimenov & Kljuykov, FOC 14: 130. 2005) treat this as Seseli condensatum, but exclude Seseli laserpitiifolium as synonymous with S. seseloides.

Plants 20–90 cm. Caudex branched. Stem solitary, branched above or simple, hollow, glabrous, angled and fluted. Leaf blade oblong, 6–30 × 2–10 cm, 2–3-pinnatisect; ultimate segments linear, 2–15 × 1–2 mm, hirsute on both surfaces along rachis and veins, margins hirsutulous, apex acuminate or acute. Synflorescence corymbose; umbels terminal, 3–7 cm across; peduncle apex densely hirsute; bracts 6–10, linear, ca. 1.5 cm, scarious-margined, pubescent; rays 15–25, ca. 2 cm, subequal, stout; bracteoles several, linear, exceeding flowers, villous; umbellules 15–20-flowered; pedicels ca. 4 mm. Calyx teeth subulate, 0.2–0.4 mm, pubescent. Petals white, glabrous or abaxially sparsely pubescent. Stylopodium dark purple, conic. Fruit ellipsoid, moderately dorsally compressed, 3–4 × 2–3 mm, densely villous; vittae 2–4 in each furrow, 4 on commissure. Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep.

Hebei, Nei Mongol, N Shanxi (Ningwu), N Xinjiang (Altay) [Kazakhstan, Mongolia, S and SE Russia].

Forest margins, grassy places, streamsides; 1400–2400 m.