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Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is a plant species in the genus Foeniculum (treated as the sole species in the genus by most botanists). It is a member of the family Apiaceae (formerly the Umbelliferae). It is a hardy, perennial, umbelliferous herb, with yellow flowers and feathery leaves. It is indigenous to the shores of the Mediterranean but has become widely naturalized in many parts of the world, especially on dry soils near the sea-coast and on riverbanks. It has a strong taste and aroma, with culinary and medicinal uses and, along with the similar-tasting anise. The bulb, foliage, and seeds of the fennel plant are widely used in many of the culinary traditions of the world.