Origin. - The dried, nearly ripe fruit of Faeniculum vulgare Miller, a herbaceous annual or perennial indigenous in Southern Europe and cultivated in Germany, Prance, and the United States.

Description and Properties. - Oblong, nearly cylindrical, slightly curved, from 1/6 to 1/2 inch (4-12 Mm.) long, brownish or greenish-brown, readily separable into the two prominent merricarps, each with five light-brown, obtuse ribs, with four oil-tubes on the back and two or four upon the flat face; odor and taste aromatic, anise-like.

Constituents. - Fennel contains from 2 to 4 per cent. of volatile oil, which is almost identical chemically with that of anise, 12.5 per cent. of fixed oil, and sugar.

Dose. - 8-30 grains (0.5-2.0 Gm.) [15 grains (1 6m.), U. S. P.].

Official Preparations

Confectio Sennae - Confectionis Sennae - Confection of Senna (0.5 percent.). - Dose, 1-2 drams (4.0-8.0 Gm.) [60 grains (4 Gm.), U. S. P.]. (Formula given under Senna.)

Infusum Sennas Compositum - Infusi Sennae Compositi - Compound Infusion of Senna. - Dose, 1-2 fluidounces (30.0-60.0 Cc.) [4 drams (120Cc), U. S. P.]. (Formula given under Senna.)