Fang Feng

Saposhnikovia divaricata is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Apiaceae and the sole species of its genus, native to grasslands, dry sandy slopes, and rocky steppes of northern China, Mongolia, Korea, and southeastern Siberia. The plant grows 30-80 cm tall from a stout, fleshy taproot crowned by fibrous remains of old leaf bases. The basal leaves are long-petioled and 2-3 times pinnately divided into narrow, linear-lanceolate segments, giving a finely dissected appearance, while stem leaves are progressively smaller and more sheathing. Numerous compound umbels of small white flowers appear in summer on much-branched, slightly ribbed stems, followed by ovoid schizocarp fruits about 4-5 mm long. The species prefers dry, well-drained sandy or gravelly soils in full sun and tolerates cold continental winters. The root, harvested in spring or autumn, is the medicinal part.