Thread: Silphium -the lost Roman Herb

BBC - Future - The mystery of the lost Roman herb

Just thought this was a great article.

"Silphium is thought to have been a close relative of asafoetida"

I live in an area where huckleberries grow and are picked in the wild by most everyone. I did not realize that they couldn't be cultivated. They're closely related to blueberries and cranberries (they're all Vaccinium) so I just assumed that people could cultivate them if they desired it. I just figured they didn't because wild grown ones tasted better or something.

Originally Posted by Falconer360

I live in an area where huckleberries grow and are picked in the wild by most everyone. I did not realize that they couldn't be cultivated. They're closely related to blueberries and cranberries (they're all Vaccinium) so I just assumed that people could cultivate them if they desired it. I just figured they didn't because wild grown ones tasted better or something.

"In Massachusetts all the way
From Boston down to Buzzards Bay
They feed you till you want to die
On rhubarb pie and pumpkin pie,
And horrible huckleberry pie,
And when you summon strength to cry,
“What is there else that I can try?”
They stare at you in mild surprise
And serve you other kinds of pies."

From H Belloc.