Dogfennel

/ˈdɔɡˌfɛnəl/ noun

Definition

A common North American plant with feathery leaves and small flowers, often considered a weed because it grows in disturbed areas.

Etymology

From 'dog' + 'fennel', where 'dog' is a common English prefix meaning 'inferior' or 'common' (as in 'dog rose'), and 'fennel' refers to the plant's resemblance to fennel. The name suggests it's a poor version of true fennel.

Kelly Says

Dogfennel was so common in old American farmland that farmers developed various folk remedies from it, even though botanists considered it more nuisance than benefit—a perfect example of 'weeds' being plants in the wrong place.

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