ferula foetida

1 definition found

ferula foetida - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Ferula \Fer"u*la\, n. [L. ferula giant fennel (its stalks were
     used in punishing schoolboys), rod, whip, fr. ferire to
     strike; akin to OHG. berjan, Icel. berja. Cf. Ferule.]
     1. A ferule. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The imperial scepter in the Byzantine or Eastern Empire.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. [capitalized] A genus of plants of the parsley family
        Apiaceae (of the order Umbelliferae), including some
        yielding asafetida. Members include Ferula asafoetida
        (Ferula foetida), the giant fennel (Ferula communis),
        and Ferula orientalis.
        [PJC]