134 — ORD. Umbellatz. WERACLEUM GUMMIFERUM. 
his account of Marocco, informs us that Ammoniacum, called Feshook in 
Arabic, is produced from a plant similar to European Fennel, but much 
larger. In most of the plains of the interior, and particularly about El 
traiche and M’sharrah Rummellah, it grows ten feet high. The Gum am- 
,moniac is procured by incisions made in the branches, which, when pricked, 
emit a lacteous, glutinous, juice ; this being hardened by the heat of the 
sun, falls on the ground and mixes with the red earth below; hence the 
reason that Gum ammoniac of Barbary does not suit the London market. It 
might, however, with a little trouble be procured perfectly pure; but when 
a prejudice is once established against any particular article, it is difficult 
to efface it. The gum in the above-mentioned state is used in all parts of 
that country for cataplasms and fumigations. The sandy soil which produces 
the gum ammoniac, abounds in the north of Marocco. It is remarkable that 
neither bird nor beast is seen where this plant grows ; the vulture only ex- 
cepted. Itis, however, attacked by a beetle, having a long horn proceeding. 
from its nose, with which it perforates the plant, and makes the i incisions 
whence the gum ‘oozes out.* 
Qualities and Chemical Properties, §c. Gum “alae has a peculiar, 
faint odour, and a bitter, sweetish, and somewhat acrid taste, which is re- 
tained for'some time in the mouth. It comes to us inthe form of tears, yel- 
low externally, and white within; it is brittle, and breaks with a vitreous 
marginal flowers have a pentapetalous, unequal corolla; ihe two outer petals being large, 
dilated, and somewhat cordate ; and the three inner sities: cordate, aud half the size only 
of the others. The central flowers are pentapetalous, equal, with inflex, cordate petals; 
the filaments are five, cappillary, with roundish anthers. There is no germen in the 
central flowers ; but in the marginal it is oblong, inferior; styles inserted into a glandu- 
lar body, crowned with capitate stigmas. The fruit is Shiba. slightly emarginate, con- 
sisting of two striated seeds, convex on one side, on the other plane. 
* The plant we have figured was copied from Mr. Jackson’s drawing, published in his 
account of the Empire of Marocco. It will be seen to differ most essentially from 
Willdenow’s account of the Heracleum gummiferu 
Mr. Jackson had many opportunities of cede ficntfiad with the plant which yields 
the ammoniacum ; but unfortunately (not being a botanist) has neither given a scien- 
tific description, nor a correct botanical drawing; but unquestionably, his figure is cha= 
racteristic of the plant: hence, preferable to Willdenow’s figure and scientific description 
of a plant raised from a seed, as before stated, which might probably be the seed of a to- 
= different plant. 
