Pimpinella atropurpurea C. Y. Wu ex Shan & Pu Fating

This poorly known taxon is recorded only from a few collections. It has reputed medicinal value.

Plants perennial, 30–40 cm, yellowish pubescent throughout. Root fibrous. Stems 1–2, striate, 3–4-branched. Basal petioles 5–15 cm; blade simple, ovate-cordate, 2.5–4.5 × 2–4 cm, margins crenate. Upper leaves heteromorphic, smaller, sessile, nearly 1-pinnate or 3-lobed, lobes lanceolate. Umbels 2.5–5 cm across; bracts 1–3, linear or linear-lanceolate, 0.8–1.5 cm, apex entire or 3-lobed; rays 8–12, 2–3 cm, densely yellowish pubescent; bracteoles 4–5, linear, 4–8 mm, ca. equal to or longer than flowers; umbellules 6–10 mm across, 10–15-flowered; pedicels 3–5 mm. Calyx teeth obsolete. Petals dark purple, abaxially glabrous, base shortly clawed, apex plane, without incurved lobule. Stylopodium low-conic; styles ca. equal to stylopodium, spreading. Young fruit ovoid, base cordate, surface sparsely puberulent (mature fruit unknown). Fl. and fr. Jul–Sep.

W Yunnan.

Grassy slopes, alpine meadows; 2900–3500 m.