Ferula is a genus of about 170 species of flowering plants. Asafoetida, the dried latex from the rhizome of Ferula it is also known as food of the gods or devil's dung. The ferula also shows up in mythological contexts; Prometheus smuggled fire to humanity by hiding it in a ferula as well. In the Middle East, the common name "Lebanese Viagra" refers to the traditional use of the roots of this plant as an alleged aphrodisiac.