Herbaceous perennial to about 1 m tall. Leaves consisting of 2-5 pairs of doubletoothed leaflets, white-hairy below, only the terminal one lobed. Flower clusters fragrant, the petals creamy white; summer. Carpels 6-10, united on inner surface, hairless and coiling together as they mature. Syn. Spiraea ulmaria L.

F. purpurea Maxim., a garden-derived plant from Japan, also has only the terminal leaflet lobed, but the petals are pinkish to purplish.

W Asia, Europe.

The source of many medicinal compounds including a fragrant medicinal oil.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Rosaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.