F. communis and tingitana. Probably a few others, including F. glauca, neapolitana, nodiflora, asparagifolia, Ferulago, and persica, may with advantage be added where much variety is sought, but the effect of any of the first three cannot be surpassed. Among the “aspects of vegetation” which we may enjoy in these cold climes, nothing equals that of their grand leaves, pushing up with the snowdrop. In semi-wild spots, where spring flowers abound, it will prove a most tasteful and satisfactory plan to drop a Ferula here and there in a sunny spot, and leave it to nature and its own good constitution afterwards. In general aspect these plants are much alike; it is better, however, to describe some of them individually.
*Ferula asparagifolia.—An ornamental perennial, 4 ft. or 5 ft. high, with very graceful and finely-cut leaves, the radical ones 1 ft. to 2 ft. long (including the leaf-stalk), repeatedly subdivided: the divisions very narrow, linear, pointed, and set with hairs; the upper stem-leaves are reduced to short sheaths, the lowest of which bear a short pinnate limb.
*Ferula communis.—A very fine and striking hardy perennial, growing from 6 ft. to 10 ft. or more high, with much-divided, spreading, shining green leaves, repeatedly subdivided into linear, flaccid segments; the lower leaves spreading more than 2 ft. each way; the sheaths of the upper leaves very large.
*Ferula Ferulago.—A very ornamental kind, with striped stems, 6 ft. to 8 ft. high, and much-divided leaves, with divided spreading leaflets, which are nearly as broad as those of F. tingitana, but longer, and of a darker green.
*Ferula glauca.—A valuable and imposing foliage-plant, 4 ft. to 6 ft. or more high, with very much divided leaves, shining above, glaucous beneath, cut into long, linear, flat segments. The stalks of the upper leaves are widened above.
*Ferula persica.—A hardy perennial from Persia and the Caucasus, with a glaucous stem from 3 ft. to 6 ft. high, tapering gradually upwards, and very handsome, much-divided leaves, with rather distant lance-shaped leaflets, widening and toothed or cut at the apex. Flowers in umbels, without any general or partial involucrum. This plant is easily distinguished by its strong asafœtida odour, and requires warm sandy soil.