Tufted perennial up to 1.2m, resprouting 4-5 months after fire. Leaves divided into 3 or 5 longish leaflets, margins finely toothed; leaves usually withered at flowering; small flowers are yellow in compound umbels on long (up to 80cm) branched, hollow flower stalks; fruit ovoid with prominent rib oil ducts.

The rhizomes are aromatic with a balsamic odour and contain an essential oil which was used to treat stomach pains.

After: Martin H. K. von Lichtenstein (17801857), German physician, botanist and explorer.