FENNEL, Fceniculurn, a genus of umbelliferous plants, allied to dill (q.v.), but dis tinguished by the cylindrical strongly ribbed fruit. The flowers are yellow. All the species are aromatic, and have much, divided leaves with thread-like segments. The best known is the COMMON F. (B. vulgare), a native of the s. of Europe and of some parts of England. It is a biennial, 3 or 4 ft. high, and is cultivated in gardens, chiefly for the sake of its leaves, which are boiled, and served up with mackerel, with salmon, and occasionally with other kinds of fish, or are employed to form a sauce for them.— SWEET F., ITALIAN F., or CRETAN F. (F. duke), is a plant of much humbler growth, and annual, much cultivated in the s. of Europe, but too tender for the climate of Britain. The young sprouts from the root are sweeter and less aromatic than those of common F., and when blanched, are a very agreeable salad and potherb. The fruit (seed) is longer and paler than that of common F., has a more agreeable odor and flavor, is the
favorite aromatic condiment of the Italians, and is used in medicine as a carminative and aromatic stimulant. Oa of F., an aromatic, stimulant, and carminative essential oil, is also made from F. (F. capense), found in the interior of the cape of Good Hope, has a thick, aromatic, esculent root.—The PANMI/1100REE of India (F. pan m orium) is a species of F. much cultivated in its native country for its sweet, warm, and aromatic fruit, which is much used as a carminative, and in curries.—The GIANT F. of the s. of Europe is a plant of a different genus (ferula), and abounds in a fetid juice. It is indeed closely allied to asafetida, hut forms a favorite food of buffaloes in Apulia, where it particularly abounds. The dry dead stem is full of a white pith, which is used in Sicily as tinder.