Ferula
(the old Latin name, perhaps from ferio, to strike; stems used as rods). Giant Fennel. Including the genera Ferulago and Narthex, which are sunk under Ferula by the authors of the "Genera Plantarum." ORD. Umbelliferoe. A genus of about forty species of splendid hardy herbaceous plants, natives of Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and Central and Western Asia. Umbels of many rays; lateral ones usually opposite or verticillate. Leaves supra-decompound; leaflets usually cleft into linear segments. Stems tall. Roots thick. They are of very simple cultivation in almost any ordinary garden soil; and form admirable plants for growing near water, on banks and herbaceous borders, where their deep green, elegant foliage is produced almost in midwinter. It is important to plant them in permanent situations. The two best species are, perhaps, communis and tingitana, but all the others below named are well worth growing.
F. Assafoetida (Asafoetida). fl. greenish-yellow; umbels stalked. July. l., radical ones 1 1/2ft. long, stalked; cauline ones broadly sheathing; both cut into oblong-lanceolate, obtuse segments, 1in. to 2in. long. h. 7ft. Persia, 1855.
F. asparagifolia (Asparagus-leaved).* fl. Yellow. l., radical ones (including the petiole) 1ft. to 2ft. long, broadly ovate in outline, quadripinnate, the divisions very narrow, linear, hairy; upper cauline leaves sheath-like; involucral ones numerous, oblong-lanceolate, acute, reflexed. h. 4ft. to 5ft. Asia Minor.
F. communis (common).* fl. yellow; central umbel nearly sessile; lateral ones male, pedunculate; involucre wanting. June. l. green; leaflets linear-setaceous, flaccid; sheaths of upper leaves very large. h. 8ft. to 12ft. Mediterranean region, 1597. A very noble herbaceous plant.(S. F. G. 279. under name of F. nodiflora.) F. Ferulago (Ferulago). fl. yellow, in a large terminal umbel; leaves of involucre numerous, oblong-lanceolate, reflexed. June. l., leaflets pinnatifid, divaricate; segments linear, cuspidate. Stem terete, striated. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Spain. (J. F. A. 5, under name of F. nodiflora.) F. glauca (glaucous).* fl. yellow; central umbel pedunculate; lateral ones male, on longer peduncles; involucre wanting. June. l. glaucous beneath; leaflets linear, elongated, flat. Stem terete, branched. h. 6ft. to 8ft. South Europe, 1596.
F. persica (Persian). fl. yellow; involucre and involucels wanting. l., leaflets rather remote or decurrently pinnate; segments linear-lanceolate, dilated and cut at the apex. Stem terete, glaucous. h. 3ft. to 6ft. Persia, 1782. (B. M. 2096.) F. Sumbul (Sumbul). A newly imported species, with graceful habit, elegant fern-like foliage, and stately pyramidal paniculate inflorescences. h. 9ft. Turkestan, 1872. This species-remarkable for the foetid, musky, and milky juice of its root-was introduced into Russia in 1835, as a substitute for musk, and a remedy for cholera; thence the drug reached Germany and England, where it was admitted into the. Pharmacopoeia in 1867. (B. M. 6196.) F. tingitana (Tangiers).* fl. yellow; terminal umbels on short peduncles; lateral umbels few, male, on longer peduncles; involucre wanting. June. l. shining; leaflets or segments oblong-lanceolate, deeply toothed; upper petiole large, sheathing. Stem terete, branched. h. 6ft. to 8ft. Northern Africa, 1680.