Foeniculum vulgare dulce - (Mill.)Batt.&Trab.

(Mill.)Batt.&Trab.

Sweet Fennel

Apiaceae Edible: Leaves, Root, Seed, Stem Potential hazards — see below

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Description

Foeniculum vulgare dulce is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from August to October, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked. A delicious aniseed flavour, the young leaves are best since older ones soon become tough. They are often used as a garnish on raw or cooked dishes or added to salads. The leaves are difficult to store dried. Leaf stalks and flower heads - raw or cooked. An aniseed flavour. The aromatic seeds are used as a flavouring in cakes, bread, stuffings etc. The sprouted seeds can be added to salads. An essential oil from the seed is used as a food flavouring in similar ways to the whole seed. Root - cooked. The flavour is somewhat parsnip-like. The leaves or the seeds can be used to make a herb tea.

Medicinal Uses

Analgesic Antiinflammatory Antispasmodic Aromatic Carminative Diuretic Emmenagogue Expectorant Galactogogue Hallucinogenic Stimulant Stomachic Urinary. Fennel is a commonly used household remedy, being useful in the treatment of a variety of complaints, especially those of the digestive system. The seeds, leaves and roots can be used, but the seeds are most active medicinally and are the part normally used. An essential oil is often extracted from the seed for medicinal use, though it should not be given to pregnant women. The plant is analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, galactogogue, hallucinogenic, laxative, stimulant and stomachic[4, 7, 9, 21, 147, 165, 176, 192, 238]. Fennel is often added to purgatives in order to allay their tendency to cause gripe, and also to improve the flavour. An infusion of the root is used to treat urinary disorders. An essential oil obtained from the seed is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Normalising'. The essential oil is bactericidal, carminative and stimulant. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity.

Known Hazards

Skin contact with the sap or essential oil is said to cause photo-sensitivity and/or dermatitis in some people. Ingestion of the oil can cause vomiting, seizures and pulmonary oedema.

Distribution

A cultivar of F. vulgare.

Where It Grows

Coming Soon

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils but prefers a sunny dry position. A cultivar of F. vulgare, this is not the genuine Florence fennel since it does not have swollen leaf stems. It is used in much the same way as fennel. See F. vulgare azoricum for the genuine Florence fennel. The flowers attract bees and hoverflies. Fennel is a poor companion plant in the garden, it inhibits the growth of nearby plants, especially beans, tomatoes and kohl rabi. It is itself inhibited by wormwood and coriander.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in early spring in situ. Division in March as the new growth appears.

Other Uses

Dye Essential Repellent Strewing. The seed yields up to 5% of an essential oil. This is used medicinally, as a food flavouring, in toothpastes, soaps, perfumery, air fresheners etc. The flavour of fennel oil depends upon its two main constituents. 'Fenchone' is a bitter tasting element whilst 'anethole' has a sweet anise-like flavour. The proportions of these two ingredients varies according to strain and region. Plants growing in the Mediterranean and southern Europe usually have a sweet oil whilst plants growing in central and northern Europe usually produce a more bitter oil. The quality of the oil also depends upon how well the seed has been dried - the oil from fully ripened and dried seeds being much sweeter and more fragrant. The dried plant is an insect repellent, the crushed leaves are effective for keeping dogs free of fleas. The plant was formerly used as a strewing herb. Yellow and brown dyes are obtained from the flowers and leaves combined.