Fennel: A Wonder Crop

Foeniculum vulgare Mill, commonly known as fennel, is an aromatic, upright herb that is perennial rather than annual. It belongs to the family Umbelliferae, now referred to as Apiaceae. The name Foeniculum vulgare was first validly published by Philip Miller in accordance with international guidelines established at Cambridge. Since its publication in the eighth edition of his Garden Dictionary in 1768, fennel has been recognized by this scientific name (Badgujar et al., 2014). Foeniculum is a cross-pollinated plant with a somatic chromosome count of 2n = 22 (Malhotra, 2003). In India, Foeniculum vulgare is grown in several regions, including Assam, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Additionally, it is cultivated in Europe, various parts of Asia, temperate areas of Africa, and South America (WHO., 2001).