Ferula

Ferula (from Latin ferula, 'rod') is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to the Mediterranean region east to central Asia, mostly growing in arid climates. They are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 1–4 m tall, with stout, hollow, somewhat succulent stems. The leaves are tripinnate or even more finely divided, with a stout basal sheath clasping the stem. The flowers are usually yellow, rarely white, produced in large umbels. Many plants of this genus, especially F. communis, are referred to as "giant fennel," although they are not fennel in the strict sense.[2][3]

Ferula assa-foetida
For other uses, see Ferula (disambiguation).

Ferula
Ferula communis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Subfamily: Apioideae
Tribe: Scandiceae
Subtribe: Ferulinae
Genus: Ferula
L.
Synonyms[1]

Selected species
  • Ferula assa-foetida – Asafoetida
  • Ferula caspica
  • Ferula communis – Giant fennel
  • Ferula conocaula
  • Ferula cypria – Cyprus fennel
  • Ferula diversivittata
  • Ferula foetida
  • Ferula gummosa, syn. galbaniflua – galbanum
  • Ferula hermonis
  • Ferula jaeschkeana
  • Ferula karelinii
  • Ferula linkii
  • Ferula longifolia
  • Ferula marmarica
  • Ferula melitensis
  • Ferula mikraskythiana – endemic to Romania and found in the Dumbrăveni Forest Nature Reserve in 2014[4]
  • Ferula moschata, syn sumbul – muskroot
  • Ferula narthex
  • Ferula orientalis
  • Ferula persica
  • Ferula rubricaulis
  • Ferula schair
  • Ferula szowitziana
  • Ferula tingitana
  • Ferula varia

The Roman spice laser or laserpicium probably came from a species of Ferula, either an extinct one or Ferula tingitana, though other identities have been suggested.

Uses
Ferula in Iran

The gummy resin of many species of Ferula is used for various purposes:

Ferula assafoetida is used to make the spice asafoetida, or hing[5]
Ferula gummosa makes galbanum
Ferula hermonis makes zallouh
Ferula moschata makes sumbul
Ferula persica makes sagapenum
Ferula tingitana makes "African ammoniacum"
Silphium was used to make laserpicium

The Romans called the hollow light rod made from this plant a ferula (compare also fasces, judicial birches). Such rods were used for walking sticks, splints, for stirring boiling liquids, and for corporal punishment.

References
  1. "Ferula Tourn. ex L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Ferula
  3. Flora of Pakistan, Ferula Linn
  4. Bulfina, Ovidiu. "Discovery! New plant species in Romania". Birdlife International. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  5. Plants for a Future, Ferula assa-foetida L., Asafoetida - Devil's Dung. Hing

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