Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a resistant perennial plant of the family of Apiaceae (Carrot) that is used in food, medicine and perfumery. Its floral heads are yellow umbels that give way to fragrant seeds. The fennel can reach two meters high, with finely divided and fervent leaves. The whole plant is edible and smells quite well. anise or licorice.

Since the fennel belongs to the family of carrots, it can have a superficial resemblance to other members of that family, some of them quite toxic. Be careful when Wildcrafting Fennel to make a positive identification before eating it!

History of the fennel

Fennel has a long history of use in Europe, since it has grown abundantly in the Mediterranean basin for millennia. The fennel is mentioned in the amulet of the nine Anglo -Saxon herbaem of the 10th century on the magical uses of common herbs and gives its name to several locations, including Funchal, Portugal (from the Portuguese function= fennel) and Marathon, Greece (from the Greek marathos= fennel).

The word fennel comes from ancient English and means «hay.»

Giant fennel (Ferula Communis) It was used to manufacture a Thyrsus, the ceremonial wand carried by Dionisio’s followers

Plinio mentions the fennel in its natural history and recommends it to improve the view.

In 1842, Longfoellow echoed this recommendation in his poem the chalice of life

It rises above the lower plants,
The fennel with its yellow flowers;
And in a time before ours
Was endowed with the wonderful powers
Lost vision to restore.

The Roman conquest extended the fennel throughout Europe and, in the medieval era, had gained enough popularity in England, where it found a precious place in the monastic gardens, cultivated by its healing properties and the production of liquors (later became an ingredient in absents

Let’s not forget to honor fennel. Grows
On a strong stem and widely extends its branches.
Its flavor is quite sweet, also sweet its smell;
They say it is good for the eyes that have a cloudy view,
That its seed, taken with milk from a pregnant goat,
Relieve the stomach swollen and loosen quickly
Slow intestines? What’s more, your rough cough
It will leave if it takes fennel mixed with wine.

The fennel was also a very popular grass and vegetable, and appeared in the gardens of the country houses and in the recipe books throughout the region. The leaves, or «beards» were used to season sauces, birds and fish, and seeds for sweetening drinks and bakery products, in addition to being highly recommended by various sources to calm food anxiety.

Folklore and symbolism of fennel

Folklore or symbolism of the Hinojo. Fortuna.com Spiritualunication of some traditions, it is believed that fennel enhances psychic abilities and helps in spiritual communication.

There is a record of the purchase of fennel seeds in large quantities for the house of King Eduardo I. Later, the Puritans brought the fennel to the «New World» as «meeting seeds», which chewed to stay alert and avoid cravings during the long religious services.

Healing with fennel

It is said that fennel seeds have a high content of antioxidants and inflammatory, so they are used both to prevent diseases and to cure them. It is said that it is very good for digestive problems, since it relieves acid stomachs and favors adequate food digestion and absorption.

Its best known historically is as an appetite suppressor. Its sweet taste slows sugar and its chemical components calm the appetite. Also relieves swelling and gases caused by excessive intake of inappropriate foods. To achieve this effect, the entire seed can be chewed or taken in infusion at the end of the food, with the added advantage of the refresher with the breath.

In essential oils in fennel seeds they also act as expectorants and constitute a valuable addition to tisanas for cough support treatment.

Fennel seed tea is a valuable ally for women, since it is said that it relieves the symptoms of both premenstrual and menopause syndrome and stimulates breastfeeding for mothers who wish to increase their production. I would not take it during pregnancy.

It is also a traditional remedy for infant cramps.

Curative use or magicodescript and digestive and the fennel is known for its digestive properties, which help relieve indigestion, swelling and gases. Respiratory health Hinojo favors respiratory health and can be used to relieve cough, congestion and asthma. CLASS Energy. Divination tool The fennel seeds are sometimes used in divinatory practices, since they offer information and enhance psychic abilities.Table 1: Curative and magical uses of fennel

Magic fennel

The fennel corresponds to the air element and the planet Mercury.

Hinojo mastifice before pronouncing an important speech to feel safer and more eloquent, also before meeting with important people or trying to convince someone of something.

Use fennel in a drink or inhale your fragrance to strengthen the mind and memory. Chewing fennel while studying will help you maintain concentration and retain information.

Historically, fennel was used to relieve hunger turbot of those who fasted by necessity or for religious reasons, so it can be included in spells to combat cravings.

Fennel seeds can be used in spells and enchantments to repel the interference of strangers, especially to prevent the forces of the order from bothering you.

In the medieval popular tradition, the fennel hung on the door to protect the house and its inhabitants of witchcraft, especially in the Christmas season. Summer solstice.

Fennel culture

Fennel is a high and tender perennial plant that tolerates light frosts. Winter passes over zone 6 and is cultivated as annual in colder climates. Fennel is quite easy to grow in various garden conditions, but prefers full sun and a well -drained and slightly acidic soil. Due to its size, you may want to keep it near the place near the back of the bed.

If you grow fennel in bulb, you will get the best flavor in autumn, so you must plant it about 90 days before the first planned autumn frost. If you are looking for a seed crop, plant as soon as the earth can work in spring.

The fennel grows well from seeds and tends to screw over the transplant stress, so if you want to grow fennel bulbs, you must plant them directly abroad. You can leave the seeds soak all night or up to 48 hours before planting them to accelerate germination. They need darkness to germinate, so cover them well with earth and keep them wet. Your fennel plants will need about 30 cm of space between them.

Keep wet plants while they are young, but can ignore them when they begin to grow. If fennel for seed cultivation, you may have to protect the highest plants from strong winds to prevent them from damaging. However, they are not likely to fall, since their pivoting root holds them quite firmly to the ground.

The fennel is a good partner of the Col, Salvia and Mint as well as other members of the Carrot family.

The caterpillars of the butterfly swallow tail enjoy eating fennel.

Fennel harvest

Young fennel leaves are an interesting complement to green salads. Fennel stems are harvested when they reach the width of a little finger. Do not be afraid to cut the plant abruptly, it will grow again more dense if you do.

The bulb must be harvested when it is size of a baseball, between 90 and 100 days after planting. If it grows more, it will begin to become woody. Just use a sharp knife to cut the entire plant from the root at the base of the bulb, or start it whole. The root is also useful.

Fennel pollen can be collected while flowers are in full flowering. Cut the stems of the flowers, place them carefully in a paper bag and keep them there until they have dried completely, shaking them well every few days; Then, tamícheos to separate the pollen from other materials.

To produce the best seeds, stop watering the plant after the flowers appear. To harvest the fennel seeds, cut the heads of the flowers just after browns and cujuelas have put upside down inside a paper bag to dry, finish maturing and the fruits fall to the bottom of the bag.

Next, spread the fruits of the fennel seeds on a mesh and let them dry in a well ventilated and protected from the sun for one or two weeks. You will get a small seed harvest the first year and a greater harvest in the following years if you live in a sufficiently soft climate. The fennel will be sown again in the garden if you do not reap the head of the seed, even in cold areas.

Fennel varieties

• Florence’s fennel is a type of Foeniculum vulgare which forms a juicy bulb at the base of the plant. You can’t really get seeds or the bulb, since this no longer …