Foeniculum vulgare

Foeniculum vulgare, also known as fennel, is a flowering plant species in the carrot family. It is a hardy, perennial herb with yellow flowers and feathery leaves. It is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean but has become widely naturalized in many parts of the world, especially on dry soils near the sea-coast and on riverbanks.

Description

Foeniculum vulgare is a perennial herb. It is erect, glaucous green, and grows to heights of up to 2.5 m, with hollow stems. The leaves grow up to 40 cm long; they are finely dissected, with the ultimate segments filiform (threadlike), about 0.5 mm wide. Its leaves are feathery and finely divided, and its flowers are yellow and arranged in large, flat umbels.

Uses

Fennel is widely cultivated, both in its native range and elsewhere, for its edible, strongly flavored leaves and fruits. Its aniseed flavor comes from anethole, an aromatic compound also found in anise and star anise, and its taste and aroma are similar to those of these two spices.

Cultivation and harvesting

Fennel is grown largely in Gujarat, Rajasthan & Uttar Pradesh. Growing is also done in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, the Nilgiris, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, etc. but on a small scale. On account of its aromatic properties, fennel fruit forms one of the ingredients of the well-known compound Liquorice Powder.

Medicinal uses

Fennel has been used as a medicinal and culinary herb since the times of the ancient Greeks. For those who have trouble with poor digestion, gas, belching, and bloating, a simple cup of fennel tea after a heavy meal can be the simplest and most effective remedy.

See also

• Medicinal plants
• Herbalism
• List of culinary herbs and spices
• List of phytochemicals in food

External links

• Plants For A Future: Foeniculum vulgare
• Botanical.com – A Modern Herbal | Fennel

Foeniculum vulgare Resources
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