Fennel
Fennel patch
Fennel umbels
Unopened flowers- a few stamens
Opened flowers- anthers and nascent fruits
Leaves
Leaves and swollen stem
Foeniculum vulgare
Apiaceae
July to September
It is found throughout the country except for large parts of the
North and parts of the Midlands and the far Southwest.
See the BSBI distribution map for Fennel
It is an archaeophytic culinary herb, brought to the UK by the
Romans.
The escape is naturalised on waste ground, rubbish tips and by
roadsides. It is most common by the coast.
Fennel is an aromatic (aniseed smelling and tasting), perennial
herb growing up to 2.5m.
The small flowers are in umbels up to 8cm.
The umbels have no upper or lower bracts.
The seeds (not shown) are ribbed and have widespread use as a
flavouring.
Seeds are often not formed in Fennel grown in the UK.
Leaves are 2 to 3 pinnate in feather-like fronds.
The bulbous leaf stems are used as a vegetable, which can be
sliced in salads or cooked..
Fennel also has uses as a medicinal herb.
Previous page: Equal-leaved Knotgrass
Next page: Flowering-rush
Fennel patch
Fennel umbels
Unopened flowers- a few stamens
Opened flowers- anthers and nascent fruits
Leaves
Leaves and swollen stem
© Copyright 2004-2022 - CMS Made Simple
This site is powered by CMS Made Simple version 1.11.9