1. "Ferula communis " is a tall herbaceous perennial. 2. It belongs to the parsley family and has the Latin name Ferula Hormonis. 3. The ferula also shows up in mythological contexts. 4. "Ferula assafoetida " is a monoecious, cortex containing the resinous gum. 5. The still-extant plant " Ferula tingitana " has been suggested as another possibility. 6. Pope Francis continued to use the " ferula " of Benedict XVI at the beginning of his pontificate. 7. In effect, the papal " ferula " became the equivalent of a bishop's crosier or pastoral staff. 8. Other species of the genus " Ferula " are also commonly called giant fennel, but they are not culinary herbs. 9. However, he did carry a distinctive form of papal ferula , silver in colour, which Pope John Paul II also used. 10. Pope Benedict XVI carried a golden ferula with a central image of the Lamb of God and without a figure of Christ crucified.
