Hillside fennel
Carlesia sinensis
Family: Apiaceae
What it is like
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has an aroma. It grows 10-30 cm high. It has a stout carrot like taproot. The leaves are in a ring on slender leaf stalks 4-6 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 3-9 cm long. There are 3 leaflets with the end one being 5-8 mm long by 1 mm wide. The flowers are white. They are in groups in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches.
There is only one Carlesia species. It is an endangered species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China
How it is used for food
The young plants are used for flavouring vegetable and meat dishes.
Edible parts
Leaves - flavouring