Ferula persica

Willd.

ApiaceaeBark/Sap

iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) Christian Gilli, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Christian Gilli

iNaturalist · cc-by-nc
(c) MRN, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by MRN

What to Eat

Edible parts: Gum

A gum is associated with this plant, but no edible uses are known.

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zone 7.

Afghanistan, Europe, Iran, Middle East, Turkey, Türkiye,

Countries: Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bahrain, Belarus, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Iceland, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Yemen

How to Identify

A perennial herb growing 1 m in height. Hardy to UK zone 7. Flowers May to July. Hermaphrodite flowers pollinated by insects with self-fertility. Thrives in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay well-drained soils. Tolerates mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH. Requires full sun and adapts to both dry and moist soil conditions.

How to Grow

Succeeds in most soils. Requires a deep fertile soil in a sunny position. Plants have a long taproot and are intolerant of root disturbance. They should be planted into their final positions as soon as possible.

Propagation: Sow seed as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse in autumn, or alternatively in April in a greenhouse. Prick out seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle, then plant into permanent positions while still small, as the plants dislike root disturbance. Provide a protective mulch for at least the first winter outdoors. Division can be carried out in autumn, though this may be inadvisable given the plant's sensitivity to root disturbance.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is antirheumatic and is used in the treatment of rheumatism and backache.

Other Uses

The gum known as Sagapenum is obtained from the plant, likely from the root. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism and lumbago.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Ferula persica, the Persian asafoetida, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to the Caucasus and Iran. It contains a number of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors.

Notes

It is used as medicine.

Names & Synonyms

Ferula puberula Boiss. & BuhseFerula szowitziana var. kandavanensis Bornm. & Gouba Peucedanum persicum Baill.

References (4)

Encyclopedia of Life.
Peter, K. V. (Ed.), 2004, Handbook of Herbs and Spices Vol. 2 Woodhead Publishing and CRC Press. p
Plants for a Future.
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew