Plants biennial, 3–10(15) dm.
Stems stout.
Leaves elliptic to ovate in outline, 5–50 cm, length ? 2 × width (upper leaves highly reduced); leaflets lanceolate, to ovate to nearly circular, 1–20 × 1–10 cm, margins coarsely toothed.
Inflorescences umbellets often in clusters of 3–5; rays 2–10 cm; pedicels 1–6 mm.
Flowers petals yellow.
Fruits 5–7 mm.
2n=22.
Roadsides, wet disturbed sites. Flowering Jun–Aug. 0–800 m. BW, ECas, Lava, Owy, Sisk, WV. CA, ID, NV, WA; throughout North America; Asia, Europe. Exotic.
Cultivated for its edible taproot, all North American P. sativa originated from plants brought from Eurasia.