FENNEL OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 169 



fungus, which performs its functions and dies. The next season 

 another patch appears outside the spot occupied by the original 

 forming a small ring, and this repeated from year to year, the 

 ring increasing in size. The decay of the previous fungi render- 

 ing the soil unfit for the reproduction of the same species, the 

 mycelium or spores find fresh soil on the external margin of the 

 ring, and again germinate. One species of fairy-ring fungus, 

 Marasmius oreades, is edible, and is called the Champignon. 



Fan Palms, a name applied to all palms having fan-shaped 

 or flabelliform leaves, represented in Southern Europe and 

 North Africa by Chamcerops humilis, occupying extensive sandy 

 plains and rocky places, generally growing in a crowded caes- 

 pitose manner without stem, the length of the leaves not 

 exceeding 3 or 4 feet, but in cultivation, by the suppression of 

 the suckers, it forms a stem which attains a height of 20 to 30 

 feet. A tough fibre is obtained from the leaves, which is used 

 for many purposes, such as for making ropes, brushes, etc. 



Feather Grass {Stipa pennata), a perennial wiry grass, 

 native of Britain, but rare. The flowers are produced in loose 

 panicles, which, when dried and coloured, form ornaments for 

 rooms. It is common on the steppes of Tartary. In the region 

 of the Volga mares' milk forms a great part of the daily food 

 of the Tartars, and it is supposed their freeness from consump- 

 tion is due to its use ; the peculiar quality of the milk is 

 attributed to the mares feeding on the feather-grass. 



Fennel (Foeniculurn mdgare), a perennial of the Carrot 

 family (UmbeUiferse). Its stems attain a height of 5 to 6 feet, and 

 are furnished with finely-cut leaves. It is a native of Europe, 

 and has become naturalised in some parts of this country. It 

 is cultivated in gardens for its leaves, which are strongly 

 aromatic, and are used in fish sauces. Fennel oil is extracted 

 from its fruits. 



Fennel Flower {Nigella sativa), an annual of the Butter- 

 cup family (Eanunculacese). It grows a foot or more in height, 

 and has finely-cut leaves, with white or light-blue open flowers, 

 and a five - celled capsule containing numerous black seeds. 



