Sanicula elata Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don

The species has reputed medicinal value. It is a widespread and very variable species, and the leaf dissection tends to intergrade with that of Sanicula astrantiifolia in E Himalayan material.

The related species S. europaea contains saponine, tannin, essential oils & vitamin C. It is used in medicine.

Plants 20–80 cm high. Stem erect, branched above, upper parts purplish brown-tinged. Basal leaves several; petioles 5–25 cm; blade broadly ovate-cordate or subpentagonal, 3–7 × 4–10 cm, palmately 3(–5)-parted, irregularly serrate, teeth mucronate; central segment obovate or rhombic, shallowly 2–3-parted, base cuneate, apex acuminate; lateral segments oblique-ovate, often 2-parted. Cauline leaves short-petiolate; blade 3(–5)-parted, upper leaves greatly reduced. Inflorescence cymose branched, terminal branch often very short, lateral branches elongate; bracts 2, lanceolate; rays ca. 5 mm, unequal; bracteoles 7–10, linear; umbellules 4–8-flowered. Staminate flowers 1–4 per umbellule, pedicels 1–1.5 mm; petals white, pale yellow or pale blue. Fertile flowers 3(or 4) per umbellule; calyx teeth shorter than bristles, persistent; styles 2-times longer than calyx teeth, recurved. Fruit ovoid-globose, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, densely covered with uncinate bristles; vittae 5, small, commissural vittae 2, larger. Fl. and fr. May–Oct.

Plants up to 1 m tall. Upper stems dichotomously branched. Rootstock thick with fibrous roots. Basal and lower leaves long petioled, palmately divided to the base; lobes 3-5, oval to rhomboidal, 3-10 cm long; margins toothed; teeth spinulose; upper leaves short petioled to subsessile. Inflorescence a compound umbel, usually dichotomously branched. Involucre of 2 or 3 lobed, toothed or entire bracts. Rays usually repeatedly divided. Involucel of minute, linear bract-lets. Calyx teeth linear, 0.5 mm long. Male flowers 3-8 in an umbellet, pedicel¬late; pedicels stout. Perfect flowers 3-4 in an umbellet, subsessile. Styles 1 mm long. Fruit ovoid, 3 mm long, covered with uncinate bristles; ridges obsolete; vittae minute, numerous; commissure with 2 large vittae. Inner seed face slightly concave.

Widely distributed from the mountains of tropical Africa through the Himalayas, and extending to China and Malaysia.

Guangxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam; E Africa].

Distribution: South Japan to S.W. China, S.E. Asia, India, W. Pakistan, East to South Africa.

1600-3500 m

Forests, stream banks; 800–3200 m.

elata: tall, high

Erect short-lived entirely hairless perennial herb, up to 80 cm tall. Leaves broadly ovate to pentagonal in outline, up to 14 cm wide, more or less deeply palmately divided with up to 5 divisions, each lobe often lobed or divided again; margin serrate with mucronate tips to the teeth. Basal leaves with long petioles, up to 30 cm long; leaves along the stem similar but gradually much smaller. Flowers in umbels with 2-3 rays; partial umbels 4-7-flowered, white to greenish-yellow. Fruit shortly ovoid, 2 × 3 mm, densely covered in short hooked spines.

Widespread in tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia.