Susanna Atkinson, age 14, of DeKalb., Ill., for her question:

HOW DO WE USE FENNEL?

Fennel is an aromatic plant. The flat seed pods are used to flavor candy and medicines. The leaves and stems are used to season soups and sauces and are also eaten as a salad.

The oil extracted from one variety, sweet fennel, is used to make soaps and perfumes.

All types of fennel have fine needle like leaves that resemble those of the carrot. They also have flat heads of small yellow flowers. Most varieties are about four feet high, but the giant fennel, whose stems are sometimes used for tinder, can reach 12 feet in height.

The fennel actually belongs to the parsley family. Originally it was found only in southern Europe but now it is cultivated in many warm countries. It can be found growing wild in the southern United States.