The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ferula \Fer"u*la\, n. [L. ferula giant fennel (its stalks were
   used in punishing schoolboys), rod, whip, fr. ferire to
   strike; akin to OHG. berjan, Icel. berja. Cf. Ferule.]
   1. A ferule. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The imperial scepter in the Byzantine or Eastern Empire.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. [capitalized] A genus of plants of the parsley family
      Apiaceae (of the order Umbelliferae), including some
      yielding asafetida. Members include Ferula asafoetida
      (Ferula foetida), the giant fennel (Ferula communis),
      and Ferula orientalis.
      [PJC]