of Western Afghanistan and North-Eastern Persia. 73 



flowers (male and female) are white. Bunge describes the 

 male flowers of his Scorodosma fcetidum as yellow, and the 

 female, or hermaphrodite flowers, as white. Mr E. M. 

 Holmes is of opinion that here we may still have two species 

 mixed up. 



Ferula galbaniflua, Boiss. et Buhse. Umbelliferj;. 



The Galbanvim plant, Iddra-Jccma, kcma-birzad, hdrzat, hdr- 

 zad, hircza, hlrijc, hlrizan, hirzad, hirzat, hlrzancl. The gum- 

 resin Galbanum, jdo-sMr, gdo-shir, shilm-i-hdrzat, shilm-i- 

 hddra-kema. 



"This plant differs from Boissier's description in having a 

 perfectly hollow stem and woolly petals ; but this wooliness 

 so entirely disappears in the herbarium, that unless seen 

 originally one would doubt its having ever existed. Not- 

 withstanding these discrepancies, we have no doubt that it is 

 Ferula Galbaxiflua, Boiss. et Buhse. In habit it differs 

 from Ferula fcetida and Dorema AiiMONiACUii in growing 

 gregariously and in its being found in greatest luxuriance in 

 moister localities, as in the Badghis near Gulran, where it 

 grows in the sandy loam of that district. Its early root- 

 leaves spring from the ground like a fountain of soft green 

 moss, and in this state it is greedily devoured by camels. 

 The stem, which grows very rapidly, is of a semi-opalescent 

 orange colour when young and perfectly glabrous. When in 

 full blossom the flower is of a brilliant orange-yellow ; as 

 the fruit forms and ripens the colour changes from the base 

 of the plant upwards, showing various autumnal tints. The 

 stem is thick at the base, but tapers suddenly upwards, 

 terminating in an elegant tall, loose, panicled inflorescence, 

 reaching a height of about four feet. The stem, on injury, 

 from its earliest stage of growth, yields an orange-yellow 

 gummy fluid which very slowly consolidates, usually forming 

 on the stem like the grease on a guttering candle, and pos- 

 sessing in common with the whole plant when crushed a 

 strong odour- resembling that of celery. The gum is com- 

 monly found adhering to the lower portions of the stem, and 

 is so tenacious that when subsequently examined pieces of 

 the plant are frequently found attached to it. No artificial 

 means are employed to my knowledge in the collection of 

 this drug. It is stated to be an article of export through 



TRANS. BOX. SOC. VOL. XVIII. K 



