The "Senbon-yari" (Leibnitzia anandria) belongs to Asteraceae (the Aster family). It is a perennial herb that is distribute throughout Japan, as well as the southern Kuril Islands, China and Siberia. This herb grows in sunny grasslands of mountains and hills, and can reach 15-60 cm in height. The radical leaves are arranged in rosette. The vernal leaves are ovate with indented toothed edges. The autumnal leaves are obovate-oblong and diveded into clefts pinnately. The white, about 1.5 cm across flower-heads bloom in April through May. Also the cleistogamous flower bloom in September to November at the top of flowering stalk which measures 30-60 cm high. The Japanese name is derived from the "keyari" (feater-topped lance) which was held by "Yakko" (samurai's servant) at the daimyo's procession during Edo Period (1603-1868). In Chinese, it is called "大丁草" (da ding cao).