68 DR. J. E. Т. AITCHISON ON THE BOTANY ОЕ 
“А Fer. soongorica, Pall., que mihi ex descriptione tantum optime notis cursive impressis 
differt ;" and these are the words he prints in italics: ** Umbellis masculis minutissimis, 
capituliformibus ad basin umbellarum feminearum, brevissime pedunculatis, pedunculo 
basi dilatato floribus vix conspicuis ; antherarum filamentis crassis perbrevibus ; involucris 
involucellisque nullis." In the various species we have examined these clusters of 
minute flowers appear to be always abortive, and the lateral umbels usually male, with 
scarcely any rudiments of gynsecium; while the central umbels are bisexual, though 
functionally female. 
FERULA Szovitstana, DC.; Boiss. Fl. Or. ii. p. 994. 
Hari-rud valley: 277, April 19, 21, 1885; May 10,12, 1885. A rigid herb, scarcely 
two feet high; common in the stony country and gravelly plains. Тһе root-stock 
possesses а slight odour of assafcetida. 
FERULA OVINA, Boiss. Fl. Or. ii. p. 986. 
Badghis: 525, Мау 21, 25, 1885. Native name Stourga, Kema-kohi. А very cha- 
racteristic plant about three feet in height, covering large expanses of the hill-sides in the 
Badghis, at an altitude of above 3000 feet. Is considered excellent grazing for all 
animals, and very fattening for horses. 
FERULA ғаттрл, Regel; Aitchison, Pharmac. Journ. & Trans. 3rd ser. xvii. p. 465 
(Lond. 1887). (Plates XIL, XIIL, XIV.) Е. Scorodosma, Bentley & Trimen; 
Scorodosma fetidum, Bunge, Boiss. Fl. Or.; Ferula Asafetida, Boiss. Fl. Or. ii. 
р. 994. 
Native names: Anguza-kema, Kurne-kema, Khora-kema. Stems from three to five feet 
in height, from a perennial root-stock that produces annual radical leaves for several 
years, and then a flowering-stem, and upon the fruit ripening the plant dies. Тһе 
young flowering-stem, rising from a tuft of radical leaves, appears in the form of a 
cabbage, being at first wholly enclosed in the broad stipular expansions, or bracts, to 
which the cauline leaves are reduced; and when the growing branches of the inflores- 
cence first push them open, the whole plant somewhat resembles a cauliflower. 
The stem seems out of all proportion massive, pillar-like, and stout for the plant. 
The inflorescence is globose, and from one to two feet in circumference. The flowers are 
white, and the young fruit soon takes a more or less purplish tinge. 
In all stages of its growth, every part of the plant exudes upon abrasion а milky juice, 
which is collected, and constitutes the drug of commerce called Asafcetida, Anguza, Hing. 
The stem in a young state is eaten raw, or cooked. 
FERULA GALBANIFLUA, Boiss. et Buhse, Aufz. p. 99; Boiss. Fl. Or. ii. p.988; Aitchison, 
Pharmac. Journ. & Trans. 3rd ser. xvii. p. 466 (Lond. 1887). (Plates XV., XVI., 
XVIL) (Descript. amplific.) Caulis simplex, medio 2-3 poll. crassus sursum sensim 
attenuatus, inter nodos cavus. Folia radicalia petiolata, circiter 14-2 ped. longa et 
1-13 ped. lata. Inflorescentia ampla, terminalis, subverticillatim ramosa, ramis 
pluriumbellatis ; umbellze centralesscepissime femineze, laterales mascule. Petala 
ampla, fere plana, extus arachno ido-pilosa. 
