Native to the Middle East, asafoetida is a perennial plant that grows about six feet (1.83 m) high and bears bright yellow clusters of flowers. The hollow stem and roots of the asafoetida plant house a milky substance that is rich in organic sulfur. This substance is sometimes dried and blended with rice flour to create a flour that is used in cooking. Asafoetida flour has grown in popularity in the United States and has been used worldwide for years. In India, for example, asafoetida is used in all lentil dishes, primarily because the herb is known to prevent and alleviate smelly flatulence.