Silphium
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Silphium is an unidentified plant that was used in classical antiquity as a seasoning, perfume, aphrodisiac, and medicine.
Four-branched silphium plant producing four bulbs and three leaflets on each branch, on a gold tenth-stater of Cyrenaica (331-322 BCE)
A coin of Magas of Cyrene c. 300–282/75 BC: the reverse has silphium and small crab symbols
Weighing and loading of silphium at Cyrene
Ancient Cyrenean silver coin depicting a silphium seed or fruit
Ferula communis
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Ferula communis, the giant fennel, is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae. It is related to the common fennel, which belongs to the same family.
Silphium
…The exact identity of silphium is unclear. It was claimed to have become extinct in Roman times, but is commonly believed to have been a relative of giant fennel in the genus Ferula. The extant plant Thapsia gummifera has been suggested as another possibility. Another conjecture is that it was simply a high-quality…
Riesenfenchel
Ferula communis kz 4
Ferula communis - MHNT