Foeniculum vulgare
Common name
fennel
Family
Apiaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Dicotyledons other than Composites
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
FOEVUL
Conservation status
Not applicable
Similar taxa
Perennial herbaceous plant from the carrot family; often reach 2m; yellow-flowered (West, 1996). Numerous yellow flowers 1-2mm; fruit dark brown 3-6mm (Webb et al., 1988).
Flower colours
Yellow
Year naturalised
1867
Origin
S. and S.W. Europe
Etymology
foeniculum: Named for genus which includes fennel, from the Latin foeniculum ‘hay’ in reference to its odour.
Life Cycle Comments
Plant dies back to a root stock after flowering (West, 1996).
Seed
Numerous seeds are produced from the flower heads (West, 1996).
Dispersal
Wind dispersed a short distance or else attach to animals and carried further (West, 1996).
Foraging for fennel
Click on the Radio New Zealand National logo to listen to This Way Up. Simon Morton interviews Johanna Knox about foraging for fennel (duration: 10′51″)