108 WILD FLOWERS. 



on chalky cliffs near the sea, more especially in the 

 south-east counties of England. It is the true fen- 

 nel of the garden, such as is used as sauce or garnish 

 to fish, and which, as such, is too well known to 

 need description. But there are several other species 

 known under the generic name of Aneihum (or 

 dill), taken from the Greek word signifying to burn 

 (from the warm and aromatic qualities of the tribe), 

 while the specific name is said to be derived from 

 the Latin fcenum, hay, from some fancied resem- 

 blance to that substance in the smell. Large quan- 

 tities of fennel-seed are imported into this country, 

 where they are employed in the manufacture of gin, 

 and also in medicine as a harmless carminative, very 

 much resembling anise-seed in its qualities, the two 

 plants being nearly allied. The infusion of fennel- 

 seed, in all its species, is generally known as dill- 

 water, and is greatly prized by nurses as a " baby- 

 medicine," though apparently, if there be any truth 

 in expression of countenance, not so fully appreci- 

 ated by the poor little babies themselves. It is also 

 much given to sickly lambs in rainy and cold sea- 

 sons. Gerarde recommends a decoction of the green 

 leaves, or seed, to nursing mothers ; and he attri- 

 butes to the boiled roots an efficacy in dropsy, being, 

 as he says, " equall in virtues with armisse-seede," 

 and good for the liver and lungs. He also recom- 

 mends that the powdered seed be drunk " for cer- 

 taine daies together fasting/' in order to preserve 

 the eyesight, quoting the old monkish couplet : 



" Fceniculum, rosa, verbena, chelidonia, ruta, 

 Ex his fit aqua quce lumina reddit acuta :" 



