Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
Family: Apiaceae

Pertinent Synonyms & Notes (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other synonyms)

none

Pertinent Common Names (particularly those used in California; go to GRIN for other common names)

fennel

Primary Disseminule Type

fruit segment

Description (diagnostics are in brown)

Fruit a woody schizocarp, oblong-ovoid, slightly compressed laterally, 3–4.5(7) mm long x 1.2–2 mm wide x 2–2.4 mm thick, with conical stylopodium at apex and sometimes a pedicel remnant at base, grayish-brown, consisting of two plano-convex (D-shaped) one-seeded, indehiscent segments (mericarps) that separate at maturity.

Mericarp flat on adaxial side, convex on abaxial side, 0.7–1.2 mm thick. Abaxial side with five prominent, acute, longitudinal ridges. One oil duct visible per ridge-interval (seen in cross-section). Adaxial side with a central, longitudinal ridge flanked by two less prominent oil tubes. Licorice scented when broken. Seed coat crushed during fruit development.

Embryo spatulate, located in lower 1/2 of mericarp, endosperm firm, ± slightly inrolled adaxially.

Risk Assessment (codes in yellow or red indicate cause for concern; assessments are current as of mid-2011; click AUQP, NZBORIC, or NZBPI for access to the most recent versions of these databases and possible assessment changes)

AUQP, NZBORIC, NZBPI