Japan Flora: Perennial; stems 20-80 cm. long, sometimes branched, glabrous or puberulent, loosely leafy; leaves simple, or often once- or twice-pinnate, ternate, long-petiolate, the leaflets broadly ovate to rhombic, 2-5 cm. long, glabrous or sparingly pilose above; spikes terminal, often branched at base, promi­nently puberulent, 10-25 cm. long; corolla pale purple, rarely white (forma albiflora Hiyama), 1-1.3 cm. long, sparingly pubescent outside, with a ring of hairs near the base; stamens slightly exserted; nutlets 1.5-2 mm. long.  July-Nov. Woods and thickets in hills and mountains;

Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu. Formosa, China, and Korea.  

f. longipes (Nakai) Murata. An abnormal phase with longer pedicels, green flowers, and sterile stiped ovary. Honshu; rare.