368 PROFESSOR BALFOUR ON THE ASAFQTIDA PLANT. 
Asafoetida is got by incision, cuts, and slices, taken from the top of the root 
of Narthex. The stem yields also a milky juice, which, when allowed to flow, 
concretes into clear tears, having a very strong foetid and enduring odour. The 
whole plant, especially when bruised, exhales a strong garlic odour. The smell 
of the flowers, when expanded, is of a sweetish honey-like nature, resembling 
that of Galium verum. The ripe fruits have the asafoetida odour when bruised, 
and retain it at least for eighteen years. Nevertheless, the cotyledons and early 
leaves of the growing young plant are not foetid, although they contain a milky 
juice. The young root has a bitterish taste. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. 
Pirate XX. 
Nartuex Asararipa, Falconer, 
Fig. 1. Plant of Narthex Asafotida much reduced in size, showing ventricose sheathing petioles or 
pericladia, bearing pinnately-divided laminz, and giving origin to numerous compound 
umbels. Fig. 2. Perfect flower, with adherent calyx, having an obsolete 5-lobed or 
5-toothed limb, five oblong yellow petals, one of them having an inflexed point, five 
stamens, an epigynous disk, and two styles slightly recurved. Fig. 3. Sterile male flower, 
having five stamens and a rudiment of the pistil, with unequal and somewhat ovate yellow 
petals. Fig. 4. Ovary, with epigynous limb of calyx, which exhibits five denticular 
points ; disk, and two recurved and deflexed styles. Fig. 5. Young germinating Asafctida 
Plant, with two linear cotyledons and primordial leaf. 
Prats XXI. 
Fig. 1. Portion of hollow stem of Narthex Asafetida, bearing an amplexicaul inflated petiole or peri- 
cladium which is terminated by a pinnately-divided lamina, and gives origin to a peduncle 
with a large fertile compound umbel, and three smaller rounded unisexual or sterile ones. 
Fig. 2. Cluster of Cremocarps or Diachenia. Fig. 3. Mericarps magnified, showing dorsal 
and commissural surface. The margins are winged, and the juga are represented, with the 
vallecule and vitte. Fig. 4. Transverse section of a mericarp, showing winged margins, 
vallecule, vitte, juga, and albumen, 

