Seasonal Wild Flowers

Fennel

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.

Fennel patch

Fennel umbels

Unopened flowers- a few stamens

Opened flowers- anthers and nascent fruits

Leaves

Leaves and swollen stem