Tong shan asafetida
Ferula tunshanica
Family: Apiaceae
What it is like
A herb. It is smooth and greyish. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1.5 m high. The stem is branched 50 cm above the ground. The lower leaves are divided 3 or 4 times. The outer segments are 1.5 cm long by 1 cm wide. They have lobes along their length. The leaf stalks are 10-16 cm long. The flowers are small and in compound groups.
Where it is found
It is native to eastern China. It grows in rock crevices.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China
How it is used for food
The young plants are gathered in early spring and dipped in boiling water, washed in cold water and seasoned for used in salads. The root is fleshy and is gathered in autumn, cleaned, partly dried and pickled for use in winter as a vegetable.
Edible parts
Leaves, roots