Fennel

Growth habit

Herbaceous

Perennation

Perennial

Native distribution

Europe

Biocultural value

It was a popular culinary herb in Classical times and was also believed to improve eyesight. Greek athletes ate the seeds to control their weight. Flowers have a strong anise flavor.

Location

Robison Herb Garden

Source of plant

Cornell Botanic Gardens, George W. Park Seed Co. Inc.

Description

Slender, glaucescent perennial or biennial, reaching 2m in height. Stems soft, hollow, finely striate, ascending and branching alternately at flowering. Leaves to 30cm, triangular in outline, 3-4-pinnate, very finely dissected, the segments long-filiform, to 5cm long; petioles sheathing. Umbels compound, 10-40-rayed, lacking involucre and involucel; flowers bisexual, yellow.

USDA Hardiness Zone

5

Special characteristics

other ethnobotanical uses, food