UMBELLIFERAE. XCIII. Dorema. 
flower, and seed; but he brought away a root, with a piece of 
the stem, and some dry leaves attached ; and which I have for- 
warded ina box to youraddress. You will observe the account 
of the plant is dated in July, 1822, thongh I only received it a 
short time ago. 
a Description of the Oshac or gum-Ammoniac plant, by Capt. 
art. 
“ ‘Tt having been intimated to me while at Bushire by the 
Resident, Capt. Bruce, that the plant which produces the gum- 
Ammoniac, called by the Persians Oshak, would be acceptable 
to botanists, as it was but imperfectly known, I procured the 
accompanying piece of stem, leaf, and flower, and took a drawing 
of one of the finest plants. Its height was 7 feet 2 inches, and 
' the circumference of the lower part of the stem 4 inches. It 
grows principally on the plains between Yerdekaust and Ku- 
misha, in the province of Irauk, without cultivation. The gum 
is so abundant, that upon the slightest puncture being made, it 
instantly oozes forth, even at the ends of the leaves. When the 
plant has attained perfection, innumerable beetles, armed -with 
an anterior and posterior probe of half an inch in length, pierce 
it in all directions; it soon becomes dry, and is then picked off, 
and sent via Bushire to India and various parts of the world ; 
and is an article of considerable export. I am of opinion it 
might be cultivated with success in many parts of Kattywar, 
and the experiment might be worth the consideration of govern- 
ment. The gum might easily be procured by artificial means, 
which would answer the purpose equally well. 
“*From the part of the stem attached to the roots of the 
specimen I sent you, a considerable portion of the gum will be 
seen exuded, in which respect it resembles the Assafcetida plant, 
which abounds in the mountains in the south of Persia, particu- 
larly in the province of Fars.’ ” 
The gum is collected about the middle of June ; a tenth is re- 
mitted as tribute to the government; the rest is sent to Bushire 
on the Persian Gulf. Part of that imported to this country 
comes from the Levant; but the largest quantity and the best 
comes by way of India. 
According to Major Willock, who has visited the districts 
where the plant grows wild, the Ooshak or gum-Ammoniac 
plant grows in great abundance over the arid plains in the vici- 
nity of the town of Jezud Khast, on the borders of the pro- 
vinces of Fars and Irak, a district appertaining to the govern- 
pos 73 of Ispahan. The white juice which forms the gum per- 
ades the whole plant, but exudes chiefly from the principal 
Stems. It either remains on them in lumps, or, falling to the 
ora is gathered by the villagers in the autumn, and is sold 
Mid them. The Ooshak plant is to be met with nowhere but in 
€ province of Irak, growing in very dry plains, gravelly soils, 
and exposed to an ardent sun. 
mmoniac has a nauseous taste, followed by a bitter one ; and 
a peculiar smell, somewhat like that of Galbanum, but more 
Stateful ; it softens in the mouth, and acquires a white colour 
es being chewed. It softens by heat, but is not fusible ; 
When thrown upon live coals it burns away in flame. Such tears 
Or aige, dry, free from small stones, seeds or other impuri- 
ete es be picked out, and preferred for internal use ; the 
3w T ind is purified in solution, colature, and careful inspis- 
aeon; but unless this be artfully managed, the gum will lose 
E erable deal of its more volatile parts. These are often 
a. €d in the shops under the name of stained gum-Ammonia- 
» @ Composition of ingredients much inferior in virtue. 
aie general action of gum-Ammoniac is stimulant. On many 
aai in doses from 10-30 grains, it proves a valuable an- 
aaa ic, deobstruent or expectorant. In large doses it purges 
fi Y, excites perspiration, and increases the flow of urine. 
sd = with advantage to promote expectoration in some pul- 
. M 
XCIV. Ertosynapne. XCV. PaLmsia. 329 
monary diseases, especially asthma and chronic catarrh; in 
dropsical affection to augment the flow of urine, and to sup- 
port the salivation in small pox. In long and obstinate cholics, 
proceeding from viscid matter lodged in the intestines, this 
gummy resin has produced good effects, after purges and the 
common carminatives had been used in vain. Externally it is 
supposed to soften and ripen hard tumours, is often applied as 
discutient in white swellings of the knee, and other indolent 
tumours. A solution of it in vinegar has been recommended 
by some for resolving even schirrous swellings. It is exhibited 
internally combined with vinegar, vinegar of squills, assafoetida, 
&c. and in pills, with bitter extracts, myrrh, assafcetida; exter- 
nally, dissolved in vinegar, combined with turpentine, common 
plaster, &c. 
Ammoniac., Fl. June, July. Clt. 1831. Pl. 4 to 7 feet. 
Cult. See Férula for culture and propagation, p. 328. 
XCIV. ERIOSYNA‘PHE (from epior, erion, wool, and 
avvagn, synaphe, connection; in reference to the commissure, 
which is the connection of the two mericarps that compose the 
fruit, and which is clothed with wool-like down in the hollows 
between the nerves). D.C. coll. mem, 5. p. 50. t. 1. f. 9. prod. 
4. p. 175.—Férula species, Fisch. 
Lin. syst. Pentdndria, Digijnia. Limb of calyx with 5 
short blunt teeth. Petals ovate, entire, acuminated ; points 
short, incurved. Fruit compressed from the back, girded by a 
thickish margin. Mericarps with 3 dorsal filiform ribs, but the 
2 lateral ones are lost in the thickish margin, which is spongy 
inside ; furrows between the ribs broad, and furnished with 2+3 
striz, and bearing 2-3 small vittee ; commissure without vitte, 
marked by a middle nerve and 2 marginal ones, tomentose, and 
rather concave between the nerves. Seed complanate.—A 
perennial glabrous herb, with the habit of Férula. Leaves de- 
compound: leaflets long, linear. Involucra and involucels none. 
Flowers yellow. This genus is very nearly allied to Férula, but 
the singularity of the commissure of the fruit distinguishes it 
from all other umbelliferous genera. 
1 E. tonerréuia (D. C. 1. c.) Y.-H. Native of Siberia, 
in the region of the Volga at Sarepta. Férula cachroides, Cat. 
hort. orl. 1811. Férula longifolia, Fisch. cat. hort. gor. 1812. 
p. 46. Stem terete, branched. Leaves glaucescent: leaflets 
an inch or more long. Upper petioles narrow, sheathing, awned 
at the apex. Umbels of many rays. 
Long-leaved Eriosynaphe. Fl. July, Aug. Cit. 1820. Pl. 
4 to 5 feet. 
Cult. See Férula, p. 328. for culture and propagation. 
XCV. PALI‘MBIA (meaning unknown to us). Bess. enum. 
pl. vohl. p. 94. Koch, in litt. D. C. prod. 4. p. 175.—Peucé- 
danum species, Pall. Sison species of Lin. fil. and Bieb.—Siler 
or Agasyllis species, Spreng.—Sium species, Lam. 
Lin. syst. Pentdndria, Digynia. Margin of calyx obsolete. 
Petals elliptic, with an inflexed acute point. Fruit oblong or 
oval: the transverse section elliptic. Mericarps compressed 
from the back, having 5 filiform bluntish ribs: the 2 marginal 
ones rather the broadest’; furrows between the ribs furnished 
with 3 vittee each ; commissure bearing 2 broad marks, Seed 
oblong, with many stripes, free from the pericarp.—Glabrous 
perennial herbs. Leaves tripinnate; leaflets multifid. Stem 
terete, branched. Involucra of few leaves or wanting. Flowers 
cream-coloured. This genus differs from Peucédanum, in the 
furrows of the fruit being furnished with 3 vittæ each, instead 
of one. 
1 P. sa’tsa (Bess, enum. pl. vobl. 55. no, 1484.) stem terete, 
branched, naked; radical leayes. tripinnate; leaflets many- 
Uu 
