Table 3.

Comparison of plant morphological characteristics of Sinocarum.

Characteristics	S. coloratum	S. cruciatum	S. filicinum	S. schizopetalum	S. vaginatum
Root	taproot elongate, thickened at apex, branched	rootstock short, thick; roots torulose	taproot elongate, stout, often branched	taproot conic	taproot elongate, thick, often branched
Stems	characteristically purplish	green	green	green	green
Basal petioles	2–10 cm	5–7 cm	8–15 cm, sparsely pubescent	5–8 cm	5–18 cm
Sheath	oblong-ovate	oblong-ovate	broadly ovate	broadly lanceolate	ovate
Basal leaves	blade ovate-lanceolate in outline, 1–2-pinnate; pinnae 4–5 pairs	triangular in outline, ternate-1–2-pinnate; pinnae 3–5 pairs	triangular in outline, 2-pinnate; pinnae 3–7 pairs	triangular in outline, ternate to 1- or 2-pinnate	triangular in outline, ternate-2–3-pinnate; pinnae 4–6 pairs
Ultimate segments of blade	linear-lanceolate	linear-lanceolate	oblong-ovate, margins serrate, abaxially sparsely pubescent along veins	oblong-lanceolate	elongate-linear
Cauline leaves	similar to the basal leaves	elongate-linear, reduced upwards becoming 1-pinnate or 3-lobed	similar to the basal leaves; upper leaves 1-pinnate	similar to the basal leaves	elongate-linear, 1–2-pinnate, reduced upwards
Bracts	absent or occasionally 1–2, linear	absent, occasionally 1	1–4, linear-lanceolate	absent, occasionally 1, linear-lanceolate	absent or occasionally 1
Bracteoles	absent, rarely 1, linear	absent, occasionally 1	5–8, linear-lanceolate	3–5, linear-lanceolate	absent
Rays	5–8(–12), unequal	4–7(–10), subequal	2–8, 1–3 cm, unequal	(3–)5–6(–8), unequal	10–12, unequal
Petals	ovate or broadly obovate, apex usually entire, occasionally 2–3-lobed, white	oblong-ovate or broadly obovate, apex obtuse to subacute, greenish-white	ovate or broadly obovate, apex subacute, white	apex palmately 3–4-lobed, lobes lanceolate or oblanceolate, white or violet	oblong-ovate or broadly obovate, apex subacute, white