FENNEL

Common Garden or Sweet Fennel is a plant chiefly cultivated for its leaves which are consumed both fresh--for garnishing, as a salad, etc.--and cooked as a vegetable, in the latter case generally tied in bunches and boiled with fish and certain other foods. It is very popular in Italy, especially in the vicinity of Naples. The seeds are also used for seasoning and in the manufacture of liqueurs.

Florence Fennel is a different variety, grown principally for the bulbous lower parts of the leaf stalks, which are usually eaten boiled. In flavor it somewhat resembles celery but is sweeter.