Ferula (from Latin ferula, 'rod') is a genus of about 220 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to the Mediterranean region east to central Asia, mostly growing in arid climates. Many plants of this genus, especially F. communis, are referred to as "giant fennel," although they are not fennel in the strict sense.

Description

They are herbaceous perennial plants growing to 1–4 m tall, with stout, hollow, somewhat succulent stems. The leaves are tripinnate or even more finely divided, with a stout basal sheath clasping the stem. The basal sheaths of Ferula oopoda, for example, are up to six inches (15 cm) long and form a cup holding about a cup of rainwater. The flowers are usually yellow, rarely white, produced in large umbels.

Selected species

• Ferula assa-foetida – asafoetida • Ferula aucheri • Ferula caspica • Ferula communis – giant fennel • Ferula conocaula • Ferula cypria – Cyprus fennel • Ferula diversivittata • Ferula drudeana, hypothesized to be the ancient Silphion • Ferula foetida • Ferula gummosa, syn. F. galbaniflua – galbanum • Ferula hermonis • Ferula iliensis • Ferula jaeschkeana • Ferula karelinii • Ferula linkii • Ferula longifolia • Ferula marmarica • Ferula melitensis • Ferula mikraskythiana – endemic to Romania and found in the Dumbrăveni Forest Nature Reserve in 2014 • Ferula moschata, syn F. sumbul – muskroot • Ferula narthex • Ferula oopoda found in Turkmenistan and Pakistan. • Ferula orientalis • Ferula persica • Ferula rubricaulis • Ferula schair • Ferula szowitziana • Ferula tingitana, hypothesized to be the ancient Silphion • Ferula varia

Uses

The Roman spice laserpicium probably came from a species of Ferula, either an extinct one or Ferula tingitana, though other identities have been suggested. The Romans called the hollow light rod made from this plant a ferula (compare also fasces, judicial birches). Such rods were used for walking sticks, splints, for stirring boiling liquids, and for corporal punishment. The gummy resin of many species of Ferula is used for various purposes: