Identification - Hog's fennel is an exclusive coastal grassland umbelifer (Umbrella shaped) plant growing to a height of around 2 metres. It is robust and hairless and the leaves are 4 - 6 times trifoliate (like hands) with flat narrow untoothed leaflets (small leaves making up a big leaf) 4 - 10 cm long. The umbels (flowers) are up to 20 cm across and are sulphur yellow. The stems are solid and sometimes slightly angled, are pale yellow-green or red-purple. (Rose 1981)
General ecology - Hog's fennel grows from the highest level salt marshes up to 1km from saline water indicating that it is very salt tolerant. It also grows on seawalls and associated grassland. 60% of the national population occurs in Essex and is only present in North East Essex. It is the main food plant for another Essex Biodiversity Action Plan species - Fisher's estuarine moth (Gortyna borelii lunata). Together the two species plans make a significant contribution to conservation of the seawall communities.
Surveying tips - The plant is currently being monitored by professional ecologists.
Photo - Zoe Ringwood