Cnidium monnieri

Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson ex Juss., Monnier's snowparsley, is a flowering plant species in the genus Cnidium. Also known as Shechuangzi, Osthole, Jashoshi, Cnidii Fructus (Fruits of Cnidium).Do not confuse with Bacopa monneri, Cnidium officinale, (both similar but different plants).The coumarins osthol, imperatorin and xanthotoxol can be found in C. monnieri. Cnidium monnieri was already described and the name validly published by Carl Linnaeus. It was Pierre Cusson, however, who reclassified it into today's valid botanical systematics in 1787. Cnidium monnieri is a species in the genus Cnidium which contains approximately 11 to 35 species and belongs to the family of the Apiaceae (carrot family). Plants annual, 10–60(–80) cm. Taproot 2–3 mm thick. Stem solitary, striate, scabrous. Lower petioles 3–8 cm; blade ovate-lanceolate, 3–8 × 2–5 cm, 2–3-pinnate; ultimate segments linear to linear-lanceolate, 3–10 × 1–1.5 mm, veins and margins scabrous. Umbels 2–3(–5) cm across; bracts 6–10, linear to linear-lanceolate, 2–3 mm, persistent, margins narrowly white membranous, very finely ciliate; rays 8–20(–30), 5–20 mm, unequal; bracteoles 5–9, linear, nearly equal pedicels, margins ciliate; umbellules 15–20-flowered; pedicels 3–5 mm. Calyx teeth obsolete or minute. Stylopodium conic; styles 3–4 times longer than stylopodium. Fruit ovoid, 1.5–3 × 1–2 mm; lateral ribs slightly broader than the dorsal. Seed face plane. Fl. Apr–Jul, fr. Jul–Oct. The plants reach heights of 10 to 80 centimetres. Cnidium monnieri has bipinnate leaves that are alternate. The linear leaflets are ciliate and petiolate. Cnidium monnieri produces compound umbels of white five-stellate flowers from April to July. The plants produce achenes.