172 MEDICINAL AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



its pleasant aromatic qualities. Asafetida is a gummy sub- 

 stance obtained by drying the milky juice which exudes from 

 the cut roots of the asafetida plant (Fig. 1(J8 I) and related 



Fm. l(i.">, 1. — ( ';ist<)r-nil Phnit (R/'rimi:^ ci'iininmis, S|)nr^r F:iniil>-, I'Juplior- 

 hinrrii'). l>l;iiit in flnw.r :iii,l fniit. ( I'.:iillnii. ) — A tfet-Hke herli, 

 Kiowiiif^ over 12 ni. i;ill in thr tropics; l<;i\'c.s ;uiil stem often reddish; 

 tlower.s greenish; irnit sniixith or prickh-, spliltintj: apart \-iplentl^' and 

 so hurling the seeds t(j a considcralile distance Nati\-i' home, ijrolialil.N- 

 tropical Africa or India, 



species. Many peoi)h' re.^ard it wiien in full strength as 

 about the inosl ill-sinellini;' of drugs. It is ;i curious fact, 



