Fennel-FOR Erasmus+ project
Collaborative dictionary of mythological plants
FUNDED BY EUROPEAN UNION
FUNDED BY EUROPEAN UNION
TARGET GROUP NUMBER: 19
fennel in flower
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Foeniculum vulgare
GENUS: foeniculum
VULGAR NAME
Spanish: hinojo
Basque: mihilu
Italian: finocchio
Greek: μάραθο
Morphological description
A comparison study of 13 fennel populations of different origins were carried out on the basis of morphological and chemical characters. Relatively stable and variable characteristics were distinguished from evaluating the correlation matrix of the morphological and chemical properties from two successive years. High stability was shown from the morphological aspects such as relative leaf mass, seed size, thousand seed mass (r= 1.000, 0.801, 0.807 respectively); for essential oil accumulation, the presence of (E)-anethole and methyl chavicol were stable characteristics (r=0.923, 0.876). Three distinct intraspecific chemical taxa could be separated based on the cluster analysis of the seed oil: fenchone-rich (31–42% fenchone), methyl chavicol-rich (30–43% methyl chavicol) and (E)-anethole-rich (60–85% anethole) chemovarieties. Within the anethole group, the presence of a further four chemical subvariants of a lower rank (chemoforms) was justified by discriminant analysis. It was also proved that the morphological characters could not be used to support any intraspecific chemical classification. In this respect, the medium strength correlation was found only between the level of essential oil accumulation and the size of seeds (r=0.610).
Uses and threats
USES :
The health benefits of fennel include relief from anemia, indigestion, flatulence, constipation, colic, diarrhea, respiratory disorders, menstrual disorders, and its benefits regarding eye care. Fennel, which has the scientific name Foeniculum Vulgare Miller, or its essence, is widely used around the world in mouth fresheners, toothpastes, desserts, antacids and in various culinary applications.
It originated in the Mediterranean and those cultures have long used it for culinary and medicinal reasons. It has not been spread and naturalized as an herb around the world, but still primarily grows in coastal climates and on riverbanks. It is also one of the main components of the alcohol absinthe, although the plant does not have hallucinogenic properties.
Apart from the uses of fennel already mentioned, there are numerous medicinal uses and health benefits, mainly due to the components of the alcohol absinthe.
Threats
Symbolism
The meanings of Ophelia's flowers are more suggested than defined. It is important to remember that each flower has many different meanings and one must consider the meaning that best fits the context of the play. However, the flowers scene is not just a nice, pretty scene in Hamlet; it and the flowers themselves hold deeper meanings.
FENNEL PLANT IN ANCIENT TIMES
Classical myths related to the plant
Prometheus (Forethought) was one of the ringleaders of the battle between the Titans and the Olympian gods led by Zeus to gain control of the heavens, a struggle which was said to have lasted ten years. Prometheus did, however, switch sides and support the victorious Olympians when the Titans would not follow his advice to use trickery in the battle.
According to Hesiod’s Theogony, Prometheus’ father was Iapetus, his mother was Clymene (or Themis in other versions) and his brothers were fellow Titans Epimetheus (Afterthought or Hindsight), Menoetius, and Atlas. One of Prometheus’ sons was Deucalion, an equivalent of Noah, who survived a great flood by sailing in a great chest for nine days and nights and who, with his wife Pyrrha, became the founder of the human race.
In some traditions, Prometheus made the first man from clay, whilst in others, the gods made all creatures on Earth, and Epimetheus and Prometheus were given the task of endowing them with gifts so that they might survive and prosper. Epimetheus liberally spread around such gifts as fur and wings but by the time he got around to man, he had run out of gifts. Feeling sorry for man’s weak and naked state, Prometheus raided the workshop of Hephaistos and Athena on Mt. Olympus and stole fire, and by hiding it in a hollow fennel-stalk, he gave the valuable gift to man which would help him in life’s struggle. The Titan also taught man how to use their gift and so the skill of metalwork began; he also came to be associated with science and culture.