Apiaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Ferula communis

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

A resin obtained from the plant is used medicinally, but in larger doeses can be harmful. It contains coumarin and other anti-nutritional factors and can cause internal and external haemorrhages, loss of vitamin K, anorexia, diarrhoea, weakness, hypothermia and hypoprothrombinuria[ 1314 Title Toxic effect of some medicinal plants used in Moroccan traditional medicine Publication Moroccan J. Biol. 2-3 (2006) 21-30 Author Mohamed Bnouham; Fatima Zahra Merhfour; Mostafa Elachoui; Ab Publisher Year 2006 ISBN Description ].

Botanical Description

Ferula communis is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a taproot; the robust stems can be 30mm in diameter near the base and can grow around 200 - 300cm tall[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental, there are some named varieties[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. Ferula communis is common in most of the countries of its wide range and the overall trend of the population is stable. Any threats affecting the species are of low to medium impact with a small scope and range, they are unlikely to cause the global populations to decline significantly in the near future. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2015)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeThroughout the Mediterranean region, extending to Arabia and eastern Africa south to Tanzania

HabitatWoodland, forest glades, rough grassland, pastures, ruderal communities, rocky and stony places, uncultivated land, mountain plain, river banks, pond margins, river beds, olive groves, coastal edges, steep hills; at elevations up to 2,500 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].