Ferula foetida
Asafoetida
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Umbelliferae
- Genus
- Ferula
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 1 m
- Fertility
- self fertile
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects
Uses
Edible uses
Leaves and young shoots - cooked as a vegetable[2][3] or eaten raw[7]. A gum-resin from the root is used as a food flavouring. It is much used in India, despite having an offensive odour[7]. It is an essential ingredient of Worcester sauce, and is also used to flavour a wide range of dishes and drinks[3]. Popular in natural food cuisine as a garlic substitute[3].
- Product or use
- Condiment
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
Asafoetida has long been used as a food flavouring and medicinal herb. It is still sometimes used in modern herbalism where it is especially valued in the treatment of hysteria, some nervous conditions, bronchitis, asthma and whooping cough[6]. It was at one time employed in the treatment of infantile pneumonia and flatulent colic[6]. The gum resin is antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant, laxative, sedative[7][5]. The volatile oil in the gum is eliminated through the lungs, making this an excellent treatment for asthma[7]. The gum does have a vile taste and so it is usually taken as a pill or as a suppository[7].
- Product or use
- Antiasthmatic
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Laxative
- Product or use
- Sedative
Material uses
A gum-resin is obtained from incisions in the roots and rhizomes[10]. The stem is removed at the end of the growing season, the root uncovered and a thin slice removed[11]. The gum exudes and hardens and a fresh slice is then made[11]. The gum is a source of an essential oil which has medicinal properties and is also used as a food flavouring and in perfumery[8][9][10].
- Product or use
- Essential
- Product or use
- Gum
Environment
- Range
- W. Asia - Afghanistan, Iran, Turkestan.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as the seed is ripe in a greenhouse in autumn[1]. Otherwise sow in April in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Plant them out into their permanent positions whilst still small because the plants dislike root disturbance[1]. Give the plants a protective mulch for at least their first winter outdoors. Division in autumn. This may be inadvisable due to the plants dislike of root disturbance.
Cultivation
Succeeds in most soils[1]. Requires a deep fertile soil in a sunny position[4]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[4]. Plants have been grown successfully at Edinburgh Botanical Gardens[7]. Plants are intolerant of root disturbance due to their long taproot[4]. They should be planted into their final positions as soon as possible.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00