Erect biennial. Stems solid, slightly grooved, purple spotted, up to 100 cm high, clothed with stiff, rarely stellate, hairs. Basal lvs 2-3-pinnate, moderately to densely hispid above and below, petiolate; ultimate segments pinnatisect and crenate, 15-35 mm long, sessile or petiolulate; stem lvs similar to basal but reduced and often 1-pinnate. Umbels 2-8 cm diam.; rays 5-11; bracts 0-2, narrowly ovate-triangular, 2-4 mm long; bracteoles 5-8, ovate-oblong, acuminate, hairy and ciliate. Fls numerous, white, irregular, 2-3 mm diam. Fr. glabrous, narrowly ovoid, dark brown with lighter ribs, 4-6 mm long.