ABSTRACT
The many Angelica species belong to the Apiaceae (formerly called the Umbelliferae), or parsley family, and are distributed worldwide. Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) is a common, fragrant perennial herb which grows in mainland China, Korea, and Japan. It has a strong scent, between that of celery and licorice. It grows naturally at high altitude on cold, damp mountain slopes in rich, deep soil. The stem is glabrous, smooth, and purplish, with light linear striations, growing about 0.5-1 m high. Inferior leaves are tripinnate; superior leaves are often simply pinnate. Leaf segments are oval and dentate. The petiole is 3-11 cm long, prominently sheathed, and bracts are rudimentary. The flower is a multiflorous umbel, 10-14 of which may radiate above the plant’s foliage on slender pedicels. Each umbel has 12-36 flowers on stems up to 1.5 cm long. Flowers are white with five petals, blooming in June and July. The fruit is borne in July and August as bipartite carpophores. The carpels are flat and slightly winged, with two seeds (Dobelis et al.; 1986, Zhu, 1987).
