Foeniculum vulgare (Miller) Wild Fennel
NOMENCLATURE
Foeniculum : from Greek. foenum: hay (smell) corrupted. to
fanculum in Middle Ages, giving birth to fenkel.
vulgare : common.
PREVIOUS NAMES: F. officionale (All). Anethum foeniculum (L).
OTHER NAMES : marathon, (Ancient Greeks) from marino to grow thin (used as diet food
by athletes competing in Olympic Marathons to strengthen, them without making them fat), or
from battle of Greeks against Persians at Marathon, 490m B.C. in a field of Fennel. Sweet cumin,
fish flower, feather fennel, devil-in-a-bush, fenkel, sweet fennel. Finkle, (Yks, N. Eng, Scot,
Kent, Lincs). Spingel, (Som).
Fennikel, (Norway). Venkoli, (Finland). Venkel, (Dutch). Fennikel, (Danish). Fankal, (Swedish).
Fenouil, aneth doux, (French). Fenchel, (German). Finochio, (Italian). Hinojo,
(Spanish). Funcho, (Portugese). Maratho, (Greek). Skumar, (Hebrew). Madhurika,
shatpushpa, (Sanskrit). Fenkul wioski, koper wioski, (Polish). Sladjkiy ukrop, fenkhel,
aptechniy ukrop, (Russian). Komorac, (Yugoslavia). Sohikirai, (Tamil). Peddajil akaramu,
somp, (Telugu). Shamar, (Arabic). Saunf, moti saunf, (Hindi &Punjab). Maduru, (Singhalese).
Wariari, (Gujrati). Insi lal, (Amharic). Guamoori, (Assami). Sonf, (Urdu). Mouri, suipha,
(Bengali). Badisep, shoap, (Marathi). Samong-saba, (Burmese). Wool heung, hul xiang,
(Chinese). Uikyo, (Japanese). Yira, (Thai). Jintan manis, adas, (Malaysia, Indonesia).
Badisopu, (Kannada). Pan mohuri, (Oriya).
BSBI Picture Link to Foeniculum vulgare
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
TYPE: stout erect glaucous glabrous perennial / biennial. H. HEIGHT : 60-250cm
AROMA: strong characteristic smell of hay, cough mixture or liquorice when rubbed.
ROOTS : stout woody, carrot shaped. STEMS : solid, striate, pithy,
polished, developing a small hollow when old.
UMBELS : compound. 4-8 cm diam. terminal & leaf opposed. Rays 10-40, 1-6cm, smooth
glaucous Peduncles > than rays. All Hermaphrodite.
LEAVES : much divided, 3-4 pinnate. Triangular in outline. Segments 1-5cm, not all in one
plane filiform with cartilaginous: points. Short stalks. Petiole with a sheathihg base.
Cotyledons tapered at the base, no petiole. No bracts.
FLOWERS : yellow. 2-3 mm minute. Styles. forming a stylopodium. F1.7-10.
FRUIT : 4-6mm ovoid-oblong, flattened. Commisure broad. Mericarps with prominent thick ribs.
5 prominent ridges. Carpophore present. Pedicels 2-5mm, slender. Styles shorter than
stylopodium divergent or recurved. Stigma capitate. 2n=22.
HABITAT : sea cliffs, waste places, rocky places, roadsides,
river banks. Dry, limestone soil.
DISTRIBUTION : native on sea cliffs and naturalised as a casual in waste places inland.
In England, S.of a line from the Humber river to British Channel, mainly coastal. Occurs
N. Wales, Kent Devon, Corn. S.E. Coast of Ireland. Naturalised Low countries. Native in
Mediterranean, S.Europe. Macronesia. Naturalised in temperate countries.
BSBI Distribution Map for Foeniculum vulgare (UK)
VARIETIES : Var. azoricum. Var. dulce : Florence Fennel.
Var. piperitum : Sicililan Fennel. Var. purpureum.
MEDICINAL USES
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS : aroma due to essential oil. (3%), anethol, anise camphor.
Properties concentrated in seeds. Essential oil with anethole (50%) fenchone (5%),
(Both irritant), limonene (Makes skin sensitive to sunlight), estragol (methyl-chavicol),
safrol, aipha-pinene (0.5%). carnphene, beta pinene, beta-myrcene, p-cymen, fatty oil, albumin,
sugar coumarin derivatives, starch. Volatile oil with anethol, fenchone, d-pinene, phel landrine,
anisic acid/aldehye, 1imonene.
EFFECT : antiseptic, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, anti-inf1ammatory, emmenagouge,
expectorant, laxative, depurative, orexigenic, diuretic, stimulant, spleenic, galactagouge.
APPLICATION : internally for constipation, anorexia, colic, nausea, dyspepsia, hiccough,
obesity, oedema, rheumatism, bruises, pyorrhoea, menopausal problems, amenorrhoea.
Narcotic in large doses, avoid in pregnancy & epilepsy. Externally as eyewash,
inflammation, conjunctivitis. All strong infusion, seeds 2-4 tspn per cup water, & external
compress. Bronchitis & cough mixture (Also for sore throat flatulence, appetite loss,
stimulate lactation : Mature fruits, infusion, 1-2 tspoon crushed fruit per cup water.
Stand 10-15: min 2-3 x day. Steam inhalation. Weaker infusion for babies. Griping in
children with upset stomach : Mixed with senna, sulphur, liquorice. Seed as breath
freshener, indigestion, hunger, skin cleanser, repairs liver after alcoholism.
HISTORICAL MEDICINAL USES
Hippocrates & Dioscorides : recommend it to increase milk flow in mothers.
Pliny:. “Fennel tea. & eyewash soothe strained eyes improve eyesight, and treat cataracts.”
1608, Sir Harrington, "Seed, forth of your lower parts to drive the wind.. .some poysons to expell, burning agues it will put to flight, the stomacke it doth keepe, and cleanse the sight."
N. Culpepper, 1630, Repairs a mans dim sight... Leaves, in drink or broth to make people lean
that are fat.” & “Dissolves kidney stones, stops hiccups, prevents nausea, gout, clear liver &
lungs, antidote to poisonous mushrooms....expels wind, provokes urine. Leaves boiled in barley
water. increases the milk flow in mothers. Root in drinks to cleanse the blood. Decoction of
leaves & root for serpent bites & vegetable poisons.”
A traditional cure for depression, restores good temper. Fennel water mixed with bicarbonate
of soda & syrup for babies with colic & flatulence. Seed tea carminative. Syrup of fennel juice
for chronic coughs. Juice in ears killed worms. In wine for dropsy, Plaster of roots for bites of
mad dogs. Kept away flies. Powdered fennel kept away f1eas.
EDIBLE USES
Seeds used in sauce, salads, beetroot, potatoes, lentils, rice, stews, sauerkraut, meat,
chicken,cheese, omlettes, cucumber & fruit pickles, curries, court-bouiilotis, stuffings, cakes,
pastries, bread, apple pies, puddings, anisette, mayonnaise, butter, candied as comfit sweets.
Condiment to salt fish during Lent. Saute seed with sliced peppers, .onion, sausage for a pasta
sauce. Seed & oil for flavouring. Gin, Absinth wine.
Young leaves in veg & fish dishes, salmon. Sauce of chopped fennel, gooseberry on mackarel
classic. Swollen bases of petioles in Salads & as veg. Tender stems raw or in soups. Fennel honey
made. Var. dulce swollen leaf bases in salads or boiled, larger seeds. Var. purpureum as garnish.
Used in Chinese five spice powder, Bengali panch phoron, French herb de Provence. France & Italy
use it in fish, pizzas, sausage, tomatoes, bread, pork, veg dishes, french vinaigrettes, finochiona salami.
Sallet Of Fennel: take young fennel, tie in bunches, boil, pour on vinegar & butter.
Fennel & Gooseberry sauce: melt butter, add pinch of flour, put in few shred chives, add little
Irish broth, salt & pepper, three sprigs of fennel, gooseberries, simmer till soft, put in some
cullis, Howard cook to Duke of Ormond 1710.
Used by Egyptians. Ancient Greeks used it as a diet food. Romans cultivated it for fruits &
shoots, put it under their bread in oven. Spain A.D. 961, shoots, water and seeds used. Anglo
Saxons used in cookery. Charlemagne : cultivated it on Imperial Farms. Medieval, seeds alleviated
hunger pangs, popular fasting and poverty food.
‘Piers Ploughman’ : A priest asks a woman for a farthings worth of fennel seed as he is fasting.
Edward I accounts show 8 1/2 lb. of seed were bought as a months supply. Richard II’s scribes,
‘Forme Of Cury’ ‘Fenkel In Soup’, with Ginger for 6. 1 1/2 lb. fennel root, cut to matchstiçks.
8 oz onion, sliced. 1 tsp ground ginger. 1 tsp powder saffron 1/2 tspn salt, 2 tblpn olive oil, 3
cup wine 3 water. Put in pan, boil, simmer 20-30 min Serve with meat, fish or on toast.”
1599, Shakespear 'Henry VI' Part II. Falstaff mentions Poins liking for Conger & Fennel an aphrodisiac.
1640, Parkinson, ‘Theatrum Botanicum’ : "Culinary use derived from Italy, leaves, seeds, rootes,
are both meat and medicine, digests crude fish."
1650, William Coles, ‘Natures Paradise’ : "Both seeds & leaves & roots used much in drinks
and broth, for those who have grown obese to abate their unwieldiness & make them grow lank."
1712 ‘Compleat History Of Drugs’ Translated to French by Pierre Pomet : "Confectioners
used to candy fennel, and sell them for freshening breath."
American Puritan settlers chewed seeds to stave off hunger in long church services,
called ‘go to meeting seeds’ carried in small boxes.
Cultivated now for seeds in France, Saxony, Galica, Russia, India, Persia, California. Harvest
when seeds are green-grey, and plant is brown. Thresh, and dry seeds on a flavour or screen indoors
or out. Store in cool dry conditions. 500lb seed yields 1 lb oil. Keep away from moisture. For
leaves :chop, cover with water & freeze in ice cubes.
OTHER USES
Essential oils, mixed with oil of anise, Pimpinella anisum, yields a camphor aroma for perfumes.
Oil of fennel used in soaps, toothpaste, alcohol, food flavouring, air fresheners. Dried leaves
in sachet powders & pot pourris.
REPTILIAN USES
1630, Pliny ‘The English Physitian.’ “Snakes eat the seeds after casting off their old skins, and
sharpen their site by rubbing against the plant.’ & “Serpents have caused fennel to be very famous,
for as. soon as they taste it, they become young again, and with the juice thereof, repair their sight.”
An Old Rhyme, Anon.: “Whaine the heddere (adder) is hurt in eye, ye red fennel is hys prey.”
GARDEN USES
Excellent in herb beds, herbaceous borders, flower arrangements, NOTE : Suppresses other plants,
esp. Caraway, Wormwood, Dill & Coriander, Tomatoes, Dwarf beans. Roots difficult to
remove & prolifically self seeding. Dislikes transplanting.
Grow as annual, full sun, rich deep soil, 6-8 pH. Thrives well in well drained loamy soils of
Gujarat. Give 5-10-5 fertilizer often, moist, do not overwater. For Finochio, add compost.
Sow in early spring, and sow continuous every 10days for good supply Sow Finochio in
Midsummer, harvest autumn. Self seeding. Root division early spring.
FOLKLORE
Greeks used it to convey longlivety giving strength. Wreaths of fennel worn by
victors in the 0lympic games.
Crowned Roman heroes. Symbol of flattery, heroism, aphrodisiac and rejuvenator.
Gladiators & Warriors became fearless and strength full after digestion.
Longfellow, ‘Goblet Of Life’ : “It gave new strength & fearless mood, & Gladiators fierce
& rude, Mingled with their daily food, and he who battled & subdued, A wreath of fennel wore.”
One of the sacred herb of the Anglo Saxons.
Medieval witches & ghosts fled from fennel seeds when mixed to a paste to block up cracks and keyholes, against their entering. Also hung, over doorway on Midsummers Eve to protect against witchcraft. (One Of The Herbs Of St. John.) Puritans also used it in this way.
- Old saying "Sow fennel, sow sorrow" (must be found not cultivated). l3thC
Physicians Of Myddfai: “He who sees fennel & gathers it not is not a man but a devil.”
Giving it away promoted disaster.
1630 N. Culpepper, “Take a little piece of Cork, or Giant Fennel, make it into a boat,
that it: may serve to bear the weight of a loadstone.”
Symbol Of Mecury, Earth & Virgo. Birthday flower for 5 Dec. Means “Worthy of praise.”
Attributed to the Virgin Mary.
EXTERNAL LINKS FOR Foeniculum vulgare
These links to trusted websites and institutions may provide in depth or additional information regards cultivation, chemistry, edibility, images etc. for the species. Links last updated Aug 2012.
Wikipedia (EU) Plants For a Future (UK)
Bio Info (UK) Center for New Crops & Plant Products (USA)
Farming & Agri Org of UN (USA) Herb Bee (UK)
Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages (AUSTRIA)
A Modern Herbal. M. Grieve (UK)
Medicinal Herb Info (USA)
'Online Guide To Umbelliferae Of The British Isles' Compiled By J.M.Burton 2002
