Fennel

On account of its aromatic and carminative properties, Fennel fruit is chiefly used medicinallywith purgatives to allay their tendency to griping and for this purposeforms one of the ingredients of the well-known compound LiquoricePowder. Fennel water has properties similar to those of anise and dillwater: mixed with sodium bicarbonate and syrup, these waters constitutethe domestic 'Gripe Water,' used to correct the flatulence of infants.Volatile oil of Fennel has these properties in concentration.

In the kitchen garden this naturallyornamental, graceful plant, generally has its stems cut down to securea constant crop of green leaves for flavouring and garnishing, so thatthe plant is seldom seen in the same perfection as in the wild state.In the original wild condition, it is variable as to size, habit, shapeand colour of leaf, number of rays in the flower-head or umbel, andshape of fruit, but it has been under cultivation for so long thatthere are now several well-marked species. The Common Garden Fennel (F. Capillaceum or officinale) is distinguished from its wild relative (F. vulgare)by having much stouter, taller, tubular and larger stems, and lessdivided leaves, but the chief distinction is that the leaf-stalks forma curved sheath around the stem, often even as far as the base of theleaf above. The flower-stalks, or pedicels, of the umbels are alsosturdier, and the fruits, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, are double the size ofthe wild ones.

Fennel is a beautiful plant. It has athick, perennial root-stock, stout stems, 4 to 5 feet or more inheight, erect and cylindrical, bright green and so smooth as to seempolished, much branched bearing leaves cut into the very finest ofsegments. The bright golden flowers, produced in large, flat terminalumbels, with from thirteen to twenty rays, are in bloom in July andAugust.

Fennel
Description

Habitat
Fennel, a hardy, perennial, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves.