Fennel, << FEHN uhl, >> is an herb often used in cooking and as a flavoring in drinks and foods. In the wild, fennel is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two growing seasons. It is cultivated in many parts of the world.
The fennel plant has fragrant, finely divided leaves and yellow flowers. Its seeds also are fragrant, and they have a licorice taste. The leaves and seeds are used to flavor candy, liqueurs, medicines, and fish and other foods. Oil of fennel, which is made from the seeds, is used in giving soaps and perfumes a pleasing fragrance. One variety of fennel, called Florence fennel or finocchio, has a bulblike base that is eaten as a vegetable. It is sweet and crisp and has a licorice taste. It is cooked or eaten raw in salads.
A plant called Spanish fennel is not closely related to true fennel. It grows in western Asia and in the Mediterranean region.
