P20101102-0013--Foeniculum vulgare--Berkeley

Description:

Foeniculum vulgarefennel. A Eurasian native that is a common weed throughout coastal California. The Californina Invasive Plant Council rates its invasive potential as high. The plant has it defenders for it serves as a host plant for the anise swallowtail butterfly (Papilio zelicaon), has seeds that have both culinary and traditional medicine uses, and an edible bulb that is cultivated as finocchio or Florence fennel. Photographed along a public pathway in Berkeley, CA.