Synonym: Isopyrum stoloniferum.
Genus: ± 15 species.
Region: China, North India, Japan, N Myanmar, Nepal.
Content: berberine, steponine, magnoflorine, coclauril, menisdaurin, menisdaurilide, aquilegiolide, (6R, 9S)-3-oxo-α-ionol-β-D-glucopyranoside, blumenol C glucoside, palmitic acid, dibutylphthalate, auriculatum A; benzylisoquinoline alkaloids, cyanides.
BotanyHerbs; perennial, erect.
Root: rhizomes present.
Stem: scapoid; unbranched or few branched; with few leaves or leafless.
Leaves: basal or basal and cauline; pedately compound, 3- to 13 foliolate, rarely simple; central leaflet entire.
Inflorescence: cymose, terminal or axillary; 1--8-flowered; bracts usually 3-lobed. Flowers: radially symmetric; bisexual, sometimes cleistogamous.
Calyx: sepals 5, petaloid; usually white, seldom yellowish or pinkish.
Corolla: petals 5; golden-yellow; much smaller than sepals, clawed.
Androecium: stamens 5 to 25; filaments narrowly linear, 1-veined; anthers yellow. Gynoicium: pistils 2, connate at base; ovary narrowly oblong, many ovuled; styles persistent.
Fruit: follicles 2, divaricate, apically beaked.
Seeds: nitid, sometimes somewhat rugose or rough.