Fennel

Abstract

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) belongs to the family Apiaceae (formerly the Umbelliferae). It is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region and is cultivated mainly in India, Rumania, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Argentina and the USA. India’s export of fennel has improved slightly in the years 2001/02, 2002/03 and 2003/04, the value of which is given in Table 12.1. Etymologically, the word fennel developed from Middle English fenel, feny; Anglo-Saxon fenol, finol, from Latin feniculum, foeniculum, diminutive of fenum, foenum, meaning ‘hay’. In Ancient Greek, fennel was called marathon and is attested in Linear B tablets as ma-ra-tu-wo. This is the origin of the place name, Marathon (meaning ‘place of fennel’), site of the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. Greek mythology claims Prometheus used the stalk of a fennel plant to steal fire from the gods. In medieval times, fennel was used in conjunction with St John’s wort to keep away witchcraft and other evil things. This might have originated because fennel can be used as an insect repellent. Fennel is thought to be one of the nine herbs held sacred by the Anglo-Saxons (Duke, 2000).