Ferula
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Ferula (from Latin ferula Template:Gloss) is a genus of about 220 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to the Mediterranean region east to central Asia, mostly growing in arid climates. Many plants of this genus, especially F. communis, are referred to as "giant fennel", although they are not fennel in the strict sense.<ref>Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Ferula</ref><ref>Flora of Pakistan, Ferula Linn</ref>
DescriptionEdit
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 basal sheaths of Ferula oopoda, for example, are up to six inches (15 cm) long and form a cup holding about a cup of rainwater.<ref>T.I. Agagmuradov, Badghiz, (1984)p. 187</ref> The flowers are usually yellow, rarely white, produced in large umbels.
Selected speciesEdit
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UsesEdit
The Roman spice laserpicium probably came from a species of Ferula, either an extinct one or Ferula tingitana, though other identities have been suggested. 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.Template:Citation needed
The gummy resin of many species of Ferula is used for various purposes:
- Ferula foetida, Ferula assa-foetida and some other species are used to make the spice asafoetida, or hing<ref>Plants for a Future, Ferula assa-foetida L., Asafoetida - Devil's Dung. Hing</ref>
- Ferula gummosa makes galbanum
- Ferula hermonis makes zallouh
- Ferula moschata makes sumbul
- Ferula persica or F. szowitziana makes sagapenum
- Ferula marmarica makes "Cyrenaican ammoniacum"
- Ferula ammoniacum makes "Persian ammoniacum"
- Ferula communis subsp. brevifolia makes "Moroccan ammoniacum"