Illustrative key for Foeniculum spp. in the Maltese Islands - by Stephen Mifsud.
Vers V3.82 (beta)

Foeniculum Miller
Fennel Bu?bie?
Taxa left beyond this couplet: 2 F. vulgare subsp. communis F. vulgare subsp. piperitum Description of Foeniculum Leaves 3- to 4-pinnate, with long filiform lobes. Sepals absent. Petals yellow, oblong, scarcely narrowed to the involute apex. Fruit ovoid-oblong, scarcely compressed. Ridges stout, prominent, the lateral somewhat wider than the others; vittae solitary. Description by T. G. Tutin extracted from Flora Europaea Vol 1-5 (Tutin et al., 1964-1993)

Foeniculum key steps >> 1

	Lead 1.A	+	Filiform leaf segments more than 10 mm, soft	ref	F. vulgare subsp. communis
		+ +	Rays of flower heads usually 4-10	ref
		+ + +	Terminal umbel above lateral umbels	ref

OR

	Lead 1.B	-	Filiform leaf segments less than 10 mm, rigid	ref	F. vulgare subsp. piperitum
		- -	Rays of flower heads usually 12-25	ref
		- - -	Lateral umbels superceding the terminal one	ref

[A] Illustration of Lead 1.A +	[B] Illustration of Lead 1.B -	Identification Tips
		The filiform leaf segments are the individual needle-shaped parts. Measure segments from young but fully mature leaves. Old basal leaves may have shorter, shriveled and harsher segments.
Image of Foeniculum vulgare subsp. vulgare by Stephen Mifsud	Image of Foeniculum vulgare subsp. piperitum by Stephen Mifsud