m 0. TJMBELLIFER2E". 629 



when young ; 2-4-pinnate, secondary and tertiary pinnas decur- 

 rent, entire or. very irregularly crenate-serrate. Lower leaves 

 l-2ft., ovate ; cauline sheaths large from which spring simple or 

 scarcely compound umbels. Terminal umbel large, compound, 

 leafless. Vittae broad, usually occupying the whole of the 

 furrow, and as long as the carpel, commisural usually 4, 2 slen- 

 der, sometimes added. Fruit ■§• by ^in. Ovary glabrous. 



Use : — The gum-resin is a powerful antispasmodic, expector- 

 ant and anthelmintic, a nervine stimulant and a feeble laxative. 

 It is useful in hysteria and hysterical affections, also in spas- 

 modic affections, such as asthma, hooping cough, angina pec- 

 toris, flatulent colic, &c. It produces remarkable effects in the 

 advanced stages of pneumonia and bronchitis in children. 

 (Pharm. Ind.) The leaves possess sudorific and carminative 

 properties. 



The gum-resin is used as a condiment by natives. It is 

 very efficacious in flatulent colic. In ringworm, it is applied as 

 a paste. 



580. F. Jceschkeana, Vatke. h.f.b.l, ii. 708. 



Syn. : — F. foetidissima, Beget, and Schmalh. 



Habitat : — Kashmir. 



Uses .-—Yields a gum-resin which, Aitchison says, is applied 

 to wounds and bruises by the inhabitants of Kurram Valley 

 (Watt). 



.• " The careful revision by Mr. E. M. Holmes of the group 

 of plants capable of yielding assafcetida has shown that, 

 although we have as yet actual evidence of the production 

 of assafcetida from Ferula fcetida, Kegel, and F. allieea, Boiss. 

 only, yet there are several other species which probably furnish 

 a portion of commercial gum-resin. In the course of his in- 

 quiries, he has been able to point out that the appearance of 

 F. Narthex, as grown at Kew, is, when in fruit, different from 

 the figure given in " Medicinal Plants ;" that Ferulu fcetidissima, 

 Kegel., is not identical with F. Jceschheana, as stated in the 

 'Flora of British India ; and, lastly, that F. rubricaulis can no 

 longer be considered to be a source of galbanum, since it has 



