川芎是伞形科植物川芎（Ligusticum chuanxiong）的干燥根茎。复伞形花序，羽状复叶，多年生草本植物。夏季当茎上的节盘显着突起，并略带紫色时采收，除去泥沙，晒后炕干，再去须根。

Ligusticum striatum is a flowering plant in the carrot family best known for its use in traditional Chinese medicine where it is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs. It is known by the common name Szechuan lovage, and chuānxiōng in Chinese:川芎. It is native to India, Kashmir, and Nepal.