178 ON THE SILPHIUM OF THE ANCIENTS. 
are quite the same, and a comparison of each distinct organ brings 
out still more clearly this resemblance. The root, or rather the 
root-stock, of both plants is of the same form and ramification. The 
erect, thick ratty ee gitudinally furrowed, which characterises Varthex, 
is also found in the Silphium ; these furrows are very clearly depicted 
on the coins. Ther e is also, particularly if one examines the vit 
representations on the coins, a au anpiaes resemblance in the arran 
i of A, leaves; we can see that these are not truly opposite, bat 
mate in pairs ; te sheaths are very large, with con 
aon aedinel nerves; the blade is divided into three to five 
gme on which again subdivisions are indicated. That these 
notches should not be represented on the common — in so small a 
space is quite natural; if, however, we com utline of the 
Narthex leaves with the representation of the ihe of the Sil- 
phium, there i eat resembl. e form and size of the flower- 
the Ti — which these genera have been separated, we need not of 
course expect to find drawn on the coins. On the other hand, there 
phium small globular bodies, of which the first represents the base of 
the fruit-stalk, a the second the stylopode. On one coin the carpo- 
phore is represented between two mericarps, with their apices turned 
towards each other. So far as the coins go the Silphium plant might 
be referred equally well to Ferula or to Narthex. As, however, it so 
but the propertics of the gum-resin. ei obtained from the Indian 
plant entirely agrees with the eres Assafcetida. The author pro- 
poses to call it Narthex Silphiu 
According to Pliny (Nat. Hist, Xvii., 2) there were three dithict 
zones ie vegetation to be distinguished in 1 Cyrenaica—the w ooded coast 
ai an intermediate zone in which oe ren was anges ens oa nd 
soon, however, asthe heights are attained, the appearance of the land- 
scape changes; only low stunted bushes, Artemisias, and Thistles 
d Scorodosma are both reduced to Ferula b 
(FI. “Onlent tlt ii. - 908) and Bentham (Gen: Plant. i., p, 918). Ed, Edis iat] 
