Foeniculum vulgare Mill., Apiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

Reject, score: 7 (Go to the risk assessment (Australia))
High risk, score: 19 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific))

Other Latin names:  Foeniculum dulce Mill.

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: anis hinoho

Chinese: hui xiang

English: aniseed-weed, bitter fennel, common fennel, fennel

Fijian: pan mauri

French: fenouil, fenouil commun

Japanese: fenneru, uikyou

Mangarevan: pine

Maori (Cook Islands): taretare, taretare tui-‘ei

Niuean: taletale

Other: sonf

Spanish: eneldo, hinojo, lecherillo

Tahitian: apiti

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Perennial herb, erect, glaucous, to 20 cm tall, highly aromatic; leaves to 20 cm long, finely dissected, ultimate segments filiform; umbels terminal, 5-15 cm wide; umbellets with 20-50 tiny flowers, these on filiform pedicels; fruit 4-9 mm long, half as wide or less, grooved"  (Stone, 1970; p. 462).

"Stout perennial herbs 9-12 dm tall.  Leaves glaucous to dark green, ovate to triangular, ca. 30 cm long, ca. 40 cm wide, pinnately decompound, the ultimate divisions filiform, 4-40 mm long, ca. 0.5 mm wide, petioles 7-14 cm long, wholly sheathing.  Peduncles 1.5-6.5 cm long, rays 15-40, spreading-ascending in flower, ascending to suberect in fruit, unequal, pedicels 2-10 mm long, subequal.  Fruit 3.5-4 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, ribs acute"  (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 204).

Habitat/ecology:  "Grass- and woodland, coastal scrub, riparian habitats, rock outcrops, disturbed sites.  Within the native range, this palnt is found in coastal scrub, grassland, rocky places and in disturbed places.  The plant forms dense mats that reduce species richness and alter the composition and structure of native grassland communities.  It successfully competes with native perennials in coastal sage communities.  Its success may relate to its ability to exploit resources during the summer when most species are not active"  (Weber, 2003; p. 171).

In Hawai‘i, "cultivated and naturalized along roadsides, in pastures, and other open sites" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 204).  In Fiji, "occasionally cultivated near sea level and sparingly naturalized in shady waste places" (Smith, 1985; p. 659).  In Niue, "more or less adventive near houses" (Sykes, 1970; p. 209).  "In Chile this species grows in the following environmental conditions: Low altitude, interior valleys; coastal mountains, 500-2000 m; coastal areas, 0-500 m. Humid areas, with almost constant rainfall. Short dry periods are possible (generally not longer than 1 month). Somewhat dry areas where the drought may last 3-5 months. Precipitations of 400 - 800 mm. are concentrated in winter. Fully exposed to the sun. Level areas or slopes facing north. Some shadow. Some protection against direct sunlight, some shadow from vegetation, filtering about 20-40 % of light"  (Chileflora).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Southern Europe and northern Africa to southwestern Asia; cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 461, 465, 553)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más Afuera (Alejandro Selkirk Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más Afuera (Alejandro Selkirk Island)	introduced invasive	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 461, 465, 553) Voucher cited: Danton B(575)538
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Vanua Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 659) Voucher cited: Greenwood 653
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 659) Voucher cited: DA 2603
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 21) Voucher cited: St. John 14727 (BISH)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced cultivated	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (p. 286) Voucher cited: Moore 680
French Polynesia Society Islands	Raiatea (Havai) Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1927) (voucher ID: PTBG 45082) Taxon name on voucher: Foeniculum vulgare
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 5)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Rapa Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Austral (Tubuai) Islands	Tubuai Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 462)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 200)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 204)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 204)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 204)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 204) Voucher cited: Forbes 131.M (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 204)
Marshall Islands Ralik Chain	Kwajalein (Kuwajleen) Atoll	introduced cultivated	Whistler, W. A./Steele, O. (1999) (p. 98)
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 92)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Tassin, Jacques (2005)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 137) Vouchers cited: MacKee 20952, MacKee 23833, MacKee 25574
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Kermadec Islands	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 127)
New Zealand (offshore islands) Kermadec Islands	Raoul Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1977) (p. 147) Eradicated 1969.
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 209) Voucher cited: CHR 168674
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 93) Voucher cited: Yuncker 10116 (BISH) "Occasional roadside weed".
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 239) Planted here and there about houses but nowhere spontaneous.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) Naturalised
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia Naturalised
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	National Herbarium of New South Wales (2013) Naturalised
British Columbia (province of Canada) Province of British Columbia	Canada (British Columbia)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	El Salvador (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Guatemala (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
China China	China (People's Republic of)	introduced invasive cultivated	Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013) Cultivated and adventive; 200-2600 m, throughout China.
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 206)
Japan Japan	Japan	introduced	Mito, Toshikazu/Uesugi, Tetsuro (2004) (p. 187)
Mexico Mexico	Mexico (United Mexican States)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 127) "Waste places, riverbeds, coastal cliffs, particularly well established within cities and along railway embankments".
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced invasive	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Washington)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Canada Canada	Canada	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  Additional control information from the Bugwood Wiki.

Physical:  "Seedlings and smaller plants can be dug out, the crowns and most of the taproots must be removed to prevent regrowth".

Chemical:  "Effective herbicides are glyphosate, triclopyr, or 2,4-D ester"  (Weber, 2003; p. 171).