Fennel and Dill (Saunf and Soe)

[Gurcharan Singh]

Dear Colleagues

Fennel or Saunf (Foeniculum vulgare) and Dill or Soe (Anethum graveolens) can be easily confused in the field especially in vegetative condition and flowering. I am enclosing the photographs of the two held together, Anethum on the right and Foeniculum on the left. Please note plants of Anethum are more slender in stems and leaves, both have darker green tinge, flowers are smaller and golden yellow in colour. The plants of Foeniculum are more robust in both stems and leaves, both have whitish green tinge, flowers are larger and have pale yellow colour. In addition  plants of Anethum have sharper flavour and taste, whereas Fennel has less sharper flavour and taste. Of course fruits are different.

--
Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/