View source for Ferula rubricaulis

{{taxobox
|name = ''Ferula''
|image = Ferula_communis.jpg
|image_caption = ''Ferula communis''
|regnum = [[Plantae]]
|unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]]
|unranked_classis = [[Eudicots]]
|unranked_ordo = [[Asterids]]
|ordo = [[Apiales]]
|familia = [[Apiaceae]]
|genus = '''''Ferula'''''
|genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
|subdivision_ranks = Species
|subdivision = See text.
|}}


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==Overview==
'''''Ferula''''' (from [[Latin]] ''ferula'', "rod") is a [[genus]] of about 170 [[species]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Apiaceae]], native to the [[Mediterranean region]] east to central [[Asia]], mostly growing in arid climates. They are [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]]s growing to 1&ndash;4&nbsp;m tall, with stout, hollow, somewhat succulent stems. The [[leaf|leaves]] are tripinnate or even more finely divided, with a stout basal sheath clasping the stem. The [[flower]]s are yellow, produced in large [[umbel]]s. Many plants of this genus, especially ''F. communis'' are referred to as "giant fennel," although they are not [[fennel]] in the strict sense. 

[[Image:Koeh-061.jpg|thumb|left|225px|''Ferula foetida'']]

==Selected species==
*''Ferula assafoetida'' - [[Asafoetida]]
*''Ferula caspica''
*''Ferula communis'' - Giant fennel
*''Ferula conocaula''
*''Ferula diversivittata''
*''Ferula foetida''
*''Ferula gummosa'', syn. ''galbaniflua'' - [[Galbanum]]
*''Ferula hermonis''
*''Ferula karelinii''
*''Ferula linkii''
*''Ferula longifolia''
*''Ferula marmarica''
*''Ferula moschata'', syn. ''sumbul'' - [[Muskroot]]
*''Ferula narthex'' - Ferula 
*''Ferula orientalis''
*''Ferula persica''
*''Ferula schair''
*''Ferula szowitziana''
*''Ferula tingitiana'' 
* The Roman spice [[silphium]] probably came from a now extinct species of ''Ferula''.

==Uses==
The [[natural gum|gum]]my [[resin]] of many species of ''Ferula'' is used for medical or culinary purposes: 
:''Ferula assafoetida'' is used to make the spice [[asafoetida]], or ''hing''
:''Ferula gummosa'' makes [[galbanum]]
:''Ferula persica'' makes [[sagapenum]]
:''Ferula moschata'' makes ''[[muskroot|sumbul]]''
:''Ferula tingitana'' makes "African [[Ammoniacum]]"
:Silphium was used to make ''[[silphium|laserpicium]]''

The Romans called the hollow light rod made from this plant a ''ferula'' (compare also [[fasces]], judicial birches). Such rods were used for [[Walking stick (assistive device)|walking sticks]], [[splint]]s, for stirring boiling liquids, and for [[corporal punishment]]. 

The ferula also shows up in [[mythology|myth]]ological contexts. The main shaft of a [[thyrsus]] was traditionally made from this plant, and [[Prometheus]] smuggled fire to humanity by hiding it in a ferula as well.

Women in Central Asia as well as a small number in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina use these to induce abortion in first trimester.

{{Commons|Ferula}}

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[[Category:Apiaceae]]
[[Category:Corporal punishments]]

[[co:Ferula (genaru)]]
[[de:Steckenkräuter]]
[[es:Ferula]]
[[fr:Ferula]]
[[it:Ferula (genere)]]
[[la:Ferula (genus)]]
[[pt:Ferula]]
[[ru:Ферула (растение)]]
[[zh-yue:阿魏]]

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