VII. 
ASAF@TIDA. 
(GUM-RESIN FROM THE FERULA ASAF@TIDA.) 
Asafetida. 
Synonyrms.—Asafetida, Bauhin, Tw., lib. xii. Ferula asafcetida, Zinn. Ferula 
Persica, Hope. Asafcetida disgunensis, Kempfer. Narthex asafwtida, Falconer. 
Forrign Names.—Fr.: Asafétida.  Ztal.: Assafetida, Zaffetica. Span.: 
Asa fetida. Germ,: Stinkasaut, Steckenkraut. Dué.: Duivels dreck. Arad.: 
Halsiit. Pers.: Ungooseh. Hind.: Hing. Russ, : Durnopathutschink. 
Nat. Order, UMBELLIFER®.—PENTANDRIA, DiayNtA. 
Gen. CHar.—General umbel of numerous rays, globose; partial, similar 
to it. General imvolucrwm deciduous; partial, of numerous small 
linear leaves. Perianth scarcely discernible. Margin of the calyz, 
five-toothed. Petals ovate, entire, acuminate, with an ascending or 
incurved point. Flowers white, many rays, lateral, often opposite. 
Fruit oval, somewhat compressed, marked with three elevated lines on 
each side, separable into two parts. Seeds two, large, gp pee flat on 
each side, marked with three distinct ribs. 
Spec. Cuar.—Stem terate, simple, clothed with leafless sheaths. Leaves 
radical, pinnatisect. The segments, one or two, pinnatifid, sinuate. 
Lobes oblong, obtuse. Involwerum none. 
Husrory.—The ancient history of Asafcetida is involved in 
mystery; it is supposed to be the Liaguv of Dioscorides, 
Herodotus, and Galen, and the Laserpitium of Pliny, which 
latter produced the Succus Cyrenaicus ;. but this plant becoming 
scarce, the ancients used another of the same genus, probably’ 
the Ferula communis, the NagénE of Dioscorides, in its place. 
Fig. 1. The flower expanded. 2 and 3. The seed in different states. a 
leaf. 
F 
