Ferula
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Ferula 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 yellow, produced in large umbels.
Selected species
- Ferula assafoetida - Asafoetida
- Ferula caspica
- Ferula communis - Giant fennel
- Ferula conocaula
- Ferula foetida
- Ferula gummosa, syn. galbaniflua - Galbanum
- Ferula karelinii
- Ferula linkii
- Ferula longifolia
- Ferula marmarica
- Ferula moschata, syn. sumbul - Muskroot
- Ferula narthex - Ferula
- Ferula orientalis
- Ferula persica
- Ferula schair
- Ferula szowitziana
- Ferula tingitiana
- See also Silphium
Uses
The gummy resin of many species of Ferula is used for medical or culinary purposes:- Ferula assafoetida is used to make the spice asafoetida, or hing
- Ferula gummosa makes galbanum
- Ferula persica makes sagapenum
- Ferula moschata makes sumbul
- Ferula tingitana makes "African Ammoniacum"
- Silphium was used to make laserpicium
The ferula also shows up in mythological contexts. The main shaft of a thyrsus was traditionally made from this plant, and Prometheus smuggled fire to humanity by hiding it in a ferula as well.
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