Similar and even greater variations are evident in another 
specimen of this plant, of unknown origin, which was 
grown at Kew as Ferula Linkii, but there is no doubt that 
specimens occur in which the ultimate segments of all 
the leaves are reduced to 4 to $ of an inch. Such speci- 
mens were originally described as distinct species, e.g. 
F’. brevifolia, Link, and F. Linkii, Webb & Berth. This 
form with short segments seems to prevail in certain 
localities and bears the character of a well-established race. 
Particular interest attaches to this plant, for the problem 
of the origin of the gum ammoniac (Fashook) of Marocco 
has been solved owing to its successful cultivation at 
Kew. This gum was originally referred to Ferula orientalis, 
L., a plant confined to the Orient, and later on to F. 
tingitana, which is a native of Marocco. But the figure 
given by Jackson, Account of Marocco, ed. 3, p. 136, t. 7, of - 
the leaf of the Fashook plant made this identification very 
doubtful. Sir Joseph Hooker, and afterwards Sir William 
Thiselton-Dyer, therefore enlisted the services of Mr. G. P. 
Hunot, then British Vice-Consul at Saffi, amongst others, 
to procure authentic specimens of the plant yielding the 
Fashook gum, with the result that its source is now traced 
to Ferula communis. A full account of the history of the 
drug will be given shortly in the Kew Bulletin. 
Deser.—A herb, sometimes 10 feet high, quite glabrous. 
Stem 4 in. thick at the base. Leaves bright green, very 
large, much dissected, ultimate segments linear-filiform, 
3-% In. long, lower petioles widened at the base, upper 
replaced by large sheaths. Umbels compound in a thyrse,. 
3 feet or more long, the central shortly, the lateral longer 
peduncled, with 16-24 rays about 1 in. long and with or 
without an involucre of a few short membranous leaves. 
Umbellules of 20 or more rays, $1 in. long; involucel of 
1 or 2 linear or filiform short leaves. Petals ovate- 
oblong, entire, yellow with an inflexed tip. Styles at 
length reflexed. Fruit elliptic or obovate-elliptic, dorsally 
very much compressed, 3-2 in. long, 4-3 in. broad; meri- 
carps with 3 filiform dorsal ridges and a narrow thickened 
margin ; intrajugal oil-tubes 2—3 ; commissural oil-tubes 4-6 ; 
carpophore bipartite. Seed plano-convex.—Orro SrapPr. 
Cultiv—The plant raised from the rootstock presented # 
by Mr. G. P. Hunot in 1886 has been cultivated in a pot in 
