21)2 FENNEL. 



Description. —The root is perennial, thick, fusiform, whitish, 

 and fibrous. The stems are upright, cylindrical, striated, glau- 

 cous, branched, and three or four feet in height. The leaves 

 are large and twice or thrice winged, placed alternately at the 

 joints of the stem on long amplexicaul, membranous, striated 

 petioles ; the leaflets filiform, linear, pinnatifid, vv'ith awl-shaped 

 segments of a deep green colour. The flowers are disposed in 

 terminal umbels, destitute both of general and partial involucre. 

 The calyx is an obsolete, tumid margin. The petals are five, 

 regular, ovate, emarginate, with inflexed points, and of a dark 

 yellow colour. The germen is inferior, ovate-cylindrical, trun- 

 cated, smooth, striated, and covered with the disk, which is 

 a large, roundish, yellow, glutinous body, dividing into two parts, 

 from each of which rises a short, thick style, terminated by an 

 obtuse truncated stigma. The fruit consists of two ovate 

 slightly compressed carpels, marked with five prominent keeled 

 ridges, of which the lateral ones are marginal and a little 

 broader. Seeds small, ovate, nearly round, on a transverse 

 section. Plate 19, fig. 4, (a) entire flower magnified ; (b) fruit 

 of the natural size ; (c) the same separating at maturity, mag- 

 nified. 



This plant occurs frequently on chalky cliffs in England near 

 the sea, and near towns at a short distance from the coast, and 

 is very common in gardens. It is a native of Madeira, Spain, 

 the South of France, Italy, and the Caucasus. 



Fennel is the ixtxpct^cov of the Greeks, and the foeniculum of 

 the Romans, ^rom fcenum, hay, the smell of the dried plant re- 

 sembling that of hay. It is called, provincially, Fitikel. 



Though formerly considered a species of Anethum or Dill, 

 this plant, with a few others, now constitutes a distinct genus. 

 The Sweet Fennel {Foeniciilum dulce) is by some considered a 

 species of Common Fennel, by others, merely a variety, whose 

 chief differences are produced by climate ; since, after being 

 cultivated for several years in a colder climate, it appears to 

 degenerate into the common sort. The seeds are brought from 

 Italy and Sicily, and these are best for medicinal use, but the 

 root and herbaceous part of the Common Fennel are em- 

 ployed. 



Qualities and general Uses. — The tender stalks are used 

 in salads : the leaves boiled enter into many fish-sauces, and 



