Ferula

‖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 ]