314 ^ Treatise on 
femi-pellucid, fliining, of a middle Nature be- 
tween a Gum and a Refin ; for in the Fire it flames 
like Refin, and in aqueous Liquors diflfolves like 
Gum, and not in Oils. When frefh it is almofl 
tranfparent, of a whitifh Colour, afterwards inclin- 
ing to Yellow, or Red-, of an acrid, bitterifhTafte, 
and ftrong, unpleafant Smell. In the Shops we 
meet with two Sorts : One in fmall Grumes or 
Tears, commonly called Galbanon en larmes ; ano- 
ther in Maffes, called Gabanon en Pains. Galbanum 
ought to be chofen frefh, pure, fat, moderately 
vifcous, inflammable, and compofed of clear whi- 
tifh Grumes. When it is brov/n, and mixed with 
Earth, Gravel, Wood, or other Drofs, it is not 
good. It comes to us from Syria. 
This Tear was known to the ancient Greeks . 
Difocorides fays it drops from a Sort of Ferula , which 
was called Metopion : And accordingly it is now 
found to flow from a ferulaceous Plant, named 
Oreofelinum Africanum > Galbaniferum , frutefcens , Anifi 
folio , Inft. R. H. 319. Ferula Africana , Galbanifera y 
Liguftici foliis et facie , Paradis . Batav. Anifum Afri- 
canum frutefcens , folio et caule rore caruleo tinffiis^ 
Pluk. t. 12. Oreofelinum Anifoides arborefcens , Li - 
guflici foliis et facie , fore luteo , Capitis-bome-Spei , 
Breyn. 2. Prodr. It grows in Perfta , and many 
Parts of Africa , particularly in Barbary. The 
milky Juice contained in this Plant has all the 
Marks of the true Galbanum. It fometimes flows 
fpontaneoufly from the Joints ; but is generally ob- 
tained by making an Lncifion into the Stalk about 
three Fingers Breadth above the Root, from which 
it ififues in Drops, and in a few Hours becomes dry 
and hard enough to gather. 
The Ferula Galbanifera of Lobelius , Icon. 779. 
which Cafpar Bauhine calls Ferulago latiore folio , is 
quite a different Plant. For this, as Tournefort hath 
obferved* 
