362 PROFESSOR BALFOUR ON THE ASAF@TIDA PLANT. 
solitario, Brancee ursinee [ Angelicze] vel Pastinacee simili; radice asam foetidam 
fundente.” Since Kzmprer’s time it has been found in various parts of Persia by 
European travellers. Sir Witi1am HooKer, in speaking of the vexed question as 
to the origin of the various Asafcetidas, says :*—“ Referring to our herbarium, we 
find various plants (varieties, genera, or species), all yielding the Asafcetida of 
commerce, or an entirely similar gum-resin :—1. Dr Fatconrr’s Narthex Asafetida 
(leaves, fruit, and root) from Tibet. 2. A very similar one, collected by Drs Fat- 
CONER and THomsoN, in the southern damp valleys of the same mountain (and 
elsewhere in Kashmire) in whose northern dry valleys Fauconrr obtained his 
Narthex; also, by Dr Tomson in Piti (Tibet). 3. A flowering specimen gathered 
in Turkistan by Dr Lorp (19th April 1838), and given to Dr Fauconer. 4. Leaves 
and roots of a quite similar plant sent by Dr Srocxs from Doobund in Beloochi- 
stan, as the Asafcetida of commerce. 5. Another similar plant from the banks of 
the Zenderad, in the Baktiyari mountains of Persia, collected by the late W. 
Lortus (June 7, 1852), of which excellent specimens are in the British Museum. 
6. The Scorodosma fetidum of Bunge (characterised generally by the absence of 
vittze), collected by M. BorsczHow in sandy places on the steppes east of the 
Caspian, where it attains a height of 9 feet. Of this plant we know the fruit, 
root, and stems, but not the leaves. BorsczHow believes it to be the Khorassan 
plant of Kzmprer, and of which fruits are in the British Museum. 7. Imperfect 
specimens of an oriental umbellifer from Aucher-Eloi and others, which may be- 
long to some of the above.” 
Among the plants in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, there is one raised from 
seeds sent by Mr Lorrus which resembles the Narthex much in its leaves, but 
which has not produced flowers. It was received under the name of Dorema 
Asafotida. The leaves of this plant, in the young state, have no fcetid odour 
when bruised. 
In 1838 Dr Fatconer saw the Narthex growing in a valley to the north of 
Kashmire, and afterwards cultivated it in the Saharunpoor Botanic Garden. Sir 
Joun M‘NEILL in 1839, sent home seeds of an Asafoetida plant from Herat. These 
seeds were given to Dr Granam by Dr Curistison. The Astore seeds were sent 
by Dr Fauconer himself to the Botanic Garden. All these seeds were sown, and 
there was some difficulty in saying which of them germinated. The late Mr 
M‘Naz thought that the plants were raised from Fauconer’s seeds. The latter 
says that from an examination of an umbelliferous fruit in the Roylean Herbarium 
(now at Liverpool), labelled as being the seeds of the wild Asafoetida plant, col- 
Jected and transmitted by Sir Joun M‘Nerut from Persia, he is disposed to think 
that it is quite different from Narthex and Ferula, and belongs to another tribe 
in the order. Through Dr Curistison’s kindness, I have obtained specimens of — 
the fruits sent to him by Sir Joun M‘Nemt, as well as those sent by Dr Fatconzr 
* Botanical Magazine, Description of Table 5168. 

