Practical
Plants

Ferula szowitziana

a perennial member of the Ferula genus in the family Umbelliferae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Ferula
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

This plant is a source of the gum 'Sagapen resin'[5][6][7]. It is little used but has the scent of the gum 'Galbanum', which is obtained from several other members of this genus[5][6]. It is obtained from wounds made in the stem[4]. It is a resin and is collected by removing soil from around the top of the root and then cutting a slice off the root[7]. It is used medicinally in plasters[1][7][2].

Product or use
Gum

Environment

Range
W. Asia.
Habitat
Dry stony slopes and salty steppes, 800 - 2150 metres in Turkey[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in some parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in most soils[1]. Prefers a deep fertile soil in a sunny position[3]. Plants have a long taproot and are intolerant of root disturbance[3]. They should be planted into their final positions as soon as possible. Monocarpic, the plant takes some years before it flowers and dies after flowering[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  4. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩

  5. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  7. Howes. F. N. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Faber

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩

  9. Davis. P. H. Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press 1965-00-00

    ↩

Edit this page