Foreign Vegetables. 301 
The Plant, which by the Greeks was called Sil- 
phium , and by the Latins Laferpitium , according to 
Fheophraftus and Diofcorides , had a very thick Root ; 
a Stalk, named Mafpetum , like the Ferula *, a Leaf 
like Smallage, with a broad and foliaceous Seed : 
The Juice by fome of the Greeks , by Way of Emi- 
nence, was termed ottos y and oms 'ZiXtplxy 
the Juice of Silphium , and the Latins gave it the 
Name of Lafer. 
All the Parts of this Plant had a Share in medici- 
nal and culinary Ufes. The Juice was not only di- 
ftinguifhed on Account of the Countries from which 
it was brought, but alfo with Refpedt to the Part of 
the Plant from which it was drawn : Thus, that 
which was got from the Stalk was called xauxfe, 
and that from the Root £*«?, which was reckoned 
inferior. There are, fays Lheophraftus , certain Mea- 
fures as it were of cutting the Root, by which as 
much is refer ved at firftasthey think fufficient, and 
afterwards they cut the reft. This Method of cut- 
ting the Root, according to certain Meafures or 
Quantities, is to this Day obferved in Perjta . 
The Authors who for many Ages after the An- 
cients wrote upon this Plant, have fo far failed to 
throw any Light upon its Hiftory, that they have 
rendered' it more obfcure. We had no certain 
Knowledge of it, till K<empfer , returning from his 
Travels into the Eaftern Countries, obliged the 
World with a very exa<ft Account both of the Plant 
and the Method of obtaining its Juice. 
In Perjia the Plant is commonly called Hingifeh , 
and the Juice Hiing. Kcempfer fays it is an umbel- 
liferous Plant a-kin to Lovage. It has a large Root 
of a black Colour on the Outfide and white within, 
continuing many Years in the Earth, and always 
encreafmg in its Bulk •, from which arifes a Stalk 
about as thick as one’s Finger, and full of white 
