FERULA COMMUNIS subsp. COMMUNIS

Including:- Subsp. glauca.

Family and Genus:- See- UMBELLIFERAE

Common Names:- Giant fennel

Homotypic Synonyms:- Ferula nodiflora, Bubon rigidior, Ferula anatriches,

Ferula brevifolia.

Meaning:- Ferula (L) Staff Pliny's name for giant fennel.

Communis (L) Growing in clumps, common

General description:- Very robust, erect perennial.

Stem:-

1) 1.5-3 m tall, occasionally more, up to 10 cm in diam. terete in cross section.

hollow. very robust, stout, rather pungent.

Leaves:-

1) With large, conspicuous, coriaceous, sheathing bases.

a) lower, broadly triangular in outline, up to 40 x 30 cm, several times pinnate

into linear ultimate segments 10-40 mm.

b) upper, becoming progressively reduced to a large sheath with or without a

small blade, conspicuous especially just before flowering.

Flowers:-

1) Symmetrical radially, 2.5 mm diam. joined together into umbels from 4-8 cm

diam. bright yellow.

2) Sepals, absent.

3) Rays, 20 to 40 rays.

4) Bracts, absent at the base of the main umbel.

a) bracteoles, some secondary, narrow, linear to lanceolate, quickly deciduous.

Fruit:-

1) 10-16 mm, broadly oblong, compressed, finally dark brown, with lateral wings

1-1.5 mm wide.

Key features:-

1) Sheaths of uppermost leaves, very large, situated close beneath and enveloping

the developing umbels.

2) Rays, of terminal umbel, (15-)20-40.

3) Leaf-lobes, up to 50 mm, not more than 1 mm wide, without distinctly revolute

margins.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Generally a conspicuous and characteristic weedspecies of roadsides,

field margins and archaeological sites. 0-900 m. locally gregarious.

Distribution:- Mediterranean region eastwards to Cyprus. Limited distribution on

Crete, mainly central west and east.

Flowering time:- End of Mar to May.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton

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FERULA COMMUNIS subsp. GLAUCA Back to Top

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Glauca (L) With a white or greyish bloom.

Resembling subsp. communis, but differering in the following characters:-

1) Ultimate segments1-3 mm wide, and green above and glaucous beneath.

2) Grows as a chasmophyte in limestone cliffs.

Habitat:- Chasmophyte in limestone cliffs.

Distribution:- As for subsp. communis, but even more remote

Flowering time:- As for subsp. communis,

Photos by:-