FOENICULUM

Foeniculum Mill., Gard. Dist. Abr., ed. 4. 1754; Boiss., Fl. Or. 975. 1872; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 14: 134; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org

Annual or perennial herbs, all parts aromatic. Stem erect, terete, fistular, glabrous. Leaves alternate, petiolate, leaf sheaths membranous-margined; leaf blade much dissected, 3-4 pinnate, ultimate segments filiform to linear. Umbels axillary and terminal, compound, bracts and bracteoles absent, rays numerous, upwards spreading, unequal. Flowers small, actinomorphic, bisexual, epigynous, yellow. Calyx teeth obsolete. Petals 5, yellow, obovate, apex inflexed. Stamens 5. Stylopodium conic, styles very short. Fruit oblong, terete, glabrous, 5-ribbed, ribs distinct, furrows1-vittate, commissures 2-vittate; inner seed face plane or slightly concave. Carpophore 2-cleft to base.

Species 5

Foeniculum vulgare

Foeniculum vulgare (L.) Mill., Gard. Dict., ed. 8. Foeniculum No. 1. 1768; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 14: 134; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org

Annual herb, glaucous, all parts glabrous and aromatic. Stem erect, branched, terete, striate, fistular, glabrous, up to 2 m tall. Leaves alternate, petiolate; leaf base sheathing, sheath ca. 4 cm long, margin membranous; leaf blade broadly triangular in outline up to 12 cm x 11 cm, much dissected, 3-4 pinnate, ultimate segments filiform, up to 3.5 cm long. Umbels axillary to terminal, compound, 5-9 cm across; rays 14-37, peduncle of umbel up to 15 cm long; peduncle of umbellules 1.5-5.5 cm long and number of flowers in umbellules up to 27. Bracts and bracteoles absent. Flowers small, actinomorphic, bisexual, epigynous, yellow. Calyx lobes obsolete. Petals 5, free, obovate with apex inflexed. Stamens 5. Stylopodium conical. Styles short. Fruits oblong, 4-6 mm x 1.2-1.5 mm, glabrous, 5-ribbed; inner seed face plane or slightly concave. Carpophore 2-cleft to base.

Flowering and Fruiting: March to May
Common Names: Common Fennel, Sweet Fennel, Florence Fennel; Saunf (Hindi)