Updates

Posted on 10th May, 2026

Silphium

A reader has sent me a link to an article in National Geographic about the possible discovery of silphium in Turkey. Or is it a relative of asafoetida??

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/miracle-plant-eaten-extinction-2000-years-ago-silphion?rid=A07E7E5B196FF1197B5DE62F79FE38B1&cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=Daily_NL_Friday_TopStories_20260417

I think you have to subscribe to read it, but I have seen other things, perhaps even a documentary about this. Am sure I’ve seen intrepid people eating those glorious golden umbels (though I’m not sure they liked the experience…)