134 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



Leaves tripinnate, the segments linear - setaceous, not all in 

 one plane. 



In waste places, especially on banks and cliffs near the sea. 

 Not uncommon on the English coasts, where it is probably native. 

 It occurs also inland, but no doubt, in most of such stations, is an 

 escape from cultivation. 



England, [Scotland, Ireland.] Perennial. Summer 

 and Autumn. 

 Rootstock thickened. Stem erect, thick, polished, finely striate, 

 bright-green, with a large pith and small central bore. Leaves 

 shortly stalked, with the petioles dilated and amplexicaul, triangular 

 in outline, 3 or even 4 times pinnate, with very finely cut leaflets 

 and segments, which vary considerably in length and stiffness. 

 Umbels large, regular, of' 10 to 30 slightly incurved rays, 1 to 3 

 inches long ; pedicels | to f inch long. Involucre and involucel 

 absent. Elowers small, -^ inch across, bright-yellow. Petals entire, 

 involute. Cremocarp greyish-olive, oblong-ovoid, scarcely laterally 

 compressed, ^ inch long, with rather prominent filiform ridges, very 

 conspicuous stylopods, and very short styles. Plant deep-green, 

 glabrous. 



Common Fennel. 



French, Fenouil Officinal. German, Gebrtiuchlicher Fenchel. 

 To some the scent and taste of the Fennel is anything but agreeable, though its 

 elegant, graceful form must be admired by all. The bright golden-yellow flowers are 

 produced in July and August, while its delicate feathery leaves appear earlier. According 

 to the old English ballad, — 



" Mirie it is in time of June, 

 When fenil hangith abrode in toun." 



It has been cultivated from very early times, and was used with St. John's wort 

 and other herbs to hang over doors at midsummer time to prevent witchcraft and other 

 evil influences. In the South of France it is usual, in addition to placing it over the 

 doors, to strew it around the bed and to lay it under the pillow, especially on the Eve 

 of St. John. As a sauce or garnish to fish, it was likewise much consumed by our fore- 

 fathers, and during Lent was never absent. Large quantities of fennel-seed (the fruit) are 

 imported into this country J and, although it has lost some of its ancient reputation, it 

 is still retained in the British Pharmacopoeia as a carminative. It resembles aniseed in 

 its properties, and is given to relieve flatulence in children, and as a vehicle for other 

 medicines. Its ancient reputation was of a much more ambitious kind : it is recom- 

 mended by Pliuy to strengthen the eyesight, who says that when serpents east their 

 skins they eat this plant and swallow the juice to restore their sight. Gerarde, as usual, 

 is full of cures to be performed by the use of this herb. He recommends it to nursing 

 mothers, and attributes to the boiled roots virtues " equal to anise seed, and good for 

 the liver and lungs." He says : " The ponder of the seed of Fennell dranke for oertaine 

 days together fasting preserveth the eye sight ; whereof was written this Distichou 

 following :— 



