Edible: Seeds, Leaves, Bulb, Herb, Spice, Vegetable, Oil, Roots, Flowers, Tea
A green leafy perennial herb. It can be 2 m high and 45 cm wide. The leaves are very fine. They have a feathery appearance. The stems are ribbed and at the bottom of the stalks there is a broad green section. When the leaves are crushed, they smell like aniseed. The flower at the top is a group of small yellow flowers. The seeds are oval and ribbed and about 5 mm long. Ripe fruit are wingless which distinguishes it from dill. There are several named cultivated varieties.
A temperate plant. It grows well in a Mediterranean climate. It grows well on dry and stony calcareous soils. It grows up to at least 2200 m altitude in the tropics. It grows better during the drier season at altitudes over 500 m. In PNG is grows between 1,400-2,200 m above sea level. It is cultivated but also easily grows wild. It is frost hardy. It grows in Nepal to about 2400 m altitude. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. Tasmania Herbarium. In Hobart Botanical gardens. In Yunnan.
Common Names: Fennel, Common fennel, Adas, Adeh manih, Arapcaci, Asi, Badishep, Badisopu, Besbas, Dereotu, Elbesbas, Fenchel, Fenneru, Fenocchio salvacce, Fenouil, Finocchio selvatico, Fonoll, Funcho, Hades, Hinojo, Hinojo amargo, Horom samit. Hui xiang, Jintan manis, Jira, Kagelanay, K'ama, Kokar ot, Komorac, Lebgoul, Madhurica, Maduru, Maraho, Masara, Masaro, Mauri, Millua, Morac, Mouri, Navadni komarček, Orla, Panmuhori, Peddajilakara, Phak chi, Rezene, Samon-saba, Samouk-saba, Saunf, Shamar, Shepu, Shombu, Shumar, Sonf, Sonp, Sopu, Sounp, Tseretso, Variari, Variyali, Vinkel, Wamssa, Yi ra, Yira
Synonyms:
Anethum dulce DC.;
Anethum foeniculum L.;
Anethum minus Gouan;
Anethum panmori Roxb.;
Anethum pannorium Roxburgh;
Anethum piperitum Ucria;
Anethum ruprestre Salisb.;
Foeniculum azoricum Mill.;
Foeniculum capillaceum Gilib.; [Invalid]
Foeniculum divaricatum Griseb.;
Foeniculum dulce Mill.;
Foeniculum officinale All..;
Foeniculum scoparium Quezel;
and others