Fennel and dill - what is the difference between them?

Experienced housewives often use in popular recipes and in cooking two popular plants - fennel and dill. What is the difference between these two cultures, whose leaves and seeds are so similar in appearance? Many do not see the difference between them, but the composition and useful properties of plants have some differences. We will get to know them closer.

Fennel

Fennel is a perennial plant belonging to the Celery family. The stems of fennel are branched and high, up to 2.5 meters. Outside, the stalk is covered with a bluish bloom, and inside it has a porous structure. The leaves are threadlike and long, and the inflorescences of the plant are similar to yellowish umbels.

There are two types of this culture - fennel vegetable and common. Vegetable fennel is easy to recognize by the fleshy rhizome. The fruits of the plant are large and sweet, they are often used in various dishes.

Seeds of fennel have a characteristic smell of anise, with shades of tarragon and peppermint. It is the seeds that multiply the plant. Seed is sown not earlier than April, and the fruits appear only by September. Fennel is afraid of cold weather, therefore it grows mainly in the subtropical climate, but in its latitudes it is possible to find some of its varieties.

Useful properties of fennel

Different composition and properties - these are the main characteristics that distinguish fennel and dill. What is the difference between them, every mistress should know in order to successfully apply each of the plants as a means of traditional medicine. As for fennel, it contains a lot of vitamins and elements that are necessary for the human body:

• Essential and fatty oils;
• Vitamins of group B, and also provitamin A;
• Biotin;
• Phytosterols;
• Amino acids;
• Calcium, manganese, zinc, copper, iron and other macro- and microelements.

In addition, the fennel is unusually tasty and flavorful. Predominantly in cooking use the fruits of the plant, but the seeds of fennel are also popular as a seasoning.

Dill

Smelly fennel is a habitual inhabitant of vegetable gardens and dachas. It is easy to recognize by the pinnate leaves and the characteristic fennel odor. The stems of dill are low, up to 90 cm, small grooves with wax coating are clearly visible on them. The fruits of the plant are small, gray-brown in color. They are not used for food, only fennel leaves are of value for cooking.

Dill is unpretentious - it does not require care and grows well even in conditions of frost. It multiplies by seeds, and it can be sown several times during the year. Shoots appear quickly enough in just a week. As soon as the stems reach 5 centimeters in height, the leaves can already be cut and eaten.

Dill: useful properties

Dill, like fennel, is actively used in recipes of folk remedies. The dill contains the following elements:

• folic acid;
• essential oils;
• Vitamin C, P, as well as a number of B vitamins;
• Flavonoids;
• Phosphorus, potassium, iron.

Fennel and dill - what's the difference?

What distinguishes these two cultures?

• Conditions for growing and caring for plants.
• Appearance.
• Smell and taste.
• Composition, useful properties and application.
• Use in cooking.

The difference is easy to understand if you take a closer look at the plants. In fact, there are many external differences - dill below fennel and has no fruits. In cooking, the fruits of fennel are more often used, whereas in fresh dill green leaves have valuable taste qualities.

How to distinguish dill from fennel, if you have plant seeds in front of you? It is very simple - fennel seeds are longer, they easily break into two parts and smell quite differently than the seeds of dill. To treat colic in infants and to increase lactation in nursing mothers, it is the infusion from fennel seeds that is used. What is noteworthy, it is called "dill water". In dill seeds have a more intense taste and aroma, they are often used as a seasoning.

Also in medicine, a decoction of fennel seeds is often used as an antispasmodic, expectorant and antimicrobial agent. Medicines from dill have similar properties, but less pronounced. They are often used as diuretics.

A good hostess must know the difference between such cultures as fennel and dill. What is the difference between them is easy to learn by growing each of the plants in your own garden. Such a close acquaintance with them will make it possible in the future not to confuse two valuable cultures and use them competently in the kitchen and in family recipes for health.