Ferula communis
Giant fennel ( Ferula communis)
The giant fennel ( Ferula communis), also called Wicked Wicked Plug herb or herb rods, a plant belonging to the Umbelliferae family is ( Apiaceae ). In ancient Rome it was used as a narthex (Greek νάρθηξ ) or referred ( in a presumably extinct variety) as Silphium.
Description
Habit
The perennial herbaceous plant reaches heights of growth 1-3 meters. On thick, furrowed stems are richly branched doldige part inflorescences. The rather thin stem is largely filled with a light cord, which some of the few uses of the plant represented (see story).
As with other umbelliferous plants the leaves are finely divided and thin. The soft leaves are three to four times pinnate, with up to 5 cm long flat linealischen sections. The lower leaves are stalked long and 30 to 60 cm tall. The upper leaves have strikingly large leaf sheaths at the top, the leaf blade is completely reduced.
Inflorescence and flower
The inflorescences of the giant fennel consist of many doldigen part inflorescences similar to those of other Umbelliferae such as celery or carrot. The composite cones consist of short -stalked, fruit-bearing Enddolden, the 20 - to 40 -beam are surrounded by barren and side umbels. The petals are yellow and 8 mm long, a cover is missing and the Hüllchenblätter fall off early.
Bloom time is from April to June.
Dissemination
This species is widespread throughout the Mediterranean. It prefers calcareous soils. The giant fennel is used as feed caterpillars, including the Corsican Swallowtail ( Papilio hospiton Gunée ).
Cultural History
According to legend, Prometheus is said to have used the dry stalk of a giant fennel to steal from Hephaestus ' forge fire, which wanted the people deprived of the gods.
The highly flammable marrow stem smolders and burns slowly, without completely destroying the bark of the stem. The Mark came as tinder for use and used for the transportation of coals.
The plant was also the god of wine, Dionysus sacred. The lightweight, yet strong stems was crowned with a pinecone. Who had too strong awarded to the wine, could rely without risk of injury to those bars that were thyrsoi called.
In Italy, the medieval Benandanti used the stems of the giant fennel to fight against witches.
Use
In ancient Rome, the stalk was used for instruction. For the punishment of slaves he was soaked in water and was painful, for children it was dry ( loud, but a little painful ) used. The Latin verb ferire ( beat ) and the Latin name of the plant, Ferula, indicate this relationship.
The stalks of giant fennel was also used for small pieces of furniture such as stools and shelves, which were worked like those made of bamboo.
It was also (and partly still is) used Ferula communis in North Africa and especially in Sicily for the production of bee hives: From the dry stalks square frames are built, which are bound together by solid rods at about 1 m long tunnels. These are grouted with a mixture of cow dung and mud and stacked after drying in rows.