Miracle plant in Ancient Greece Rediscovered after 2,000 years

[cally]

https://greekreporter.com/2024/01/03/plant-ancient-greece-rediscovered/

Silphium was used in many dishes, medicines, and as contraceptive. It was thought extinct but researcher thinks they found it.

Inspired by ancient accounts, botanical explorers throughout the Middle Ages perpetually sought the plant across three continents although in vain. Consequently, historians believed the disappearance of silphion to be the first recorded extinction of any species, plant, or animal.

Despite the plant having been perceived to be extinct for centuries and having completely disappeared from the history books, a researcher at Istanbul University, Mahmut Miski, suspects he has re-discovered the ancient plant. He believes the Ferula Drudeana that grows on Mount Hasan is the elusive ancient plant—nearly a thousand miles from where it once grew.

According to a report by National Geographic, the researcher found it has similarities with the silphion plant which line up with old botanical texts and images of the plant on Ancient Greek coins.

[MadameButterfly]

1. I love this kind of historical botanical sleuthing

and can't imagine what went into making such a discovery. There are amazingly smart people in this world. Thanks for a post that inspires us with genius instead of, well, you know...

[yardwork]

6. What you said.

This makes me smile.

[Botany]

2. I have 4 types of native silphiums growing in the my front yard ... prairie .. right now

Prairie Dock, Cupp Plant, Compass Plant, and Rosin Weed.

[cally]

3. Interesting

This article implies (and others I read) that cultivating this plant is difficult and why it almost went extinct. Is this true for the types you have? Do you think there are ways to cultivate this one over time?

[Botany]

4. The Native American Silphiums are really tough and propagate easily as per the middle eastern genius

…. I don’t know. Although if it is just a few of them maybe the seed doesn’t get pollinated or
the native critters aren’t around anymore to pollinate them. They should be able to propagate
them from their roots. We have grown lupines from seed that is thousands of years old.

It depends on where you live but the Native American ones are really easy to grow. P.M.
me and I can put you in touch with a friend who grows them. They are like a big sunflowers
and help lots of our native critters such as bees, insects, birds, and firefly larvae. 🐛

[Wicked Blue]

5. It was probably over-harvested

by people who liked silphium

[WestMichRad]

7. There are close to 20 species of Silphium native to

… North America. So it’s a well-populated genus. One theory is the ancient plant, that Greeks called silphion, was related to giant fennel, which is in the genus Ferula. The Greek philosopher Theophrastus noted the plant as having thick roots covered in black bark, with a hollow stalk (like fennel… and familiar Silphium species), and golden leaves like those of celery. (Thx Wiki).

[cally]

8. Interesting