Definition

1. Noun:
   • A common, strong-smelling weed with white-petaled flowers that have yellow centers.
   • A weedy plant found in the southeastern United States, characterized by divided leaves and long clusters of greenish flowers.

Usage

• Dog fennel is typically used as a common name for specific weedy plants, particularly in North America. It is not a cultivated garden plant.
• It is often mentioned in contexts related to agriculture, gardening, or ecology as an invasive or nuisance plant.

Examples

• The pasture was overrun with dog fennel, crowding out the native grasses.
• Farmers consider dog fennel a troublesome weed that is difficult to control.
• Despite its name, dog fennel is not a true fennel and should not be consumed.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used descriptively to indicate something is common, weedy, or has a strong, often unpleasant odor.
  • The vacant lot had that distinct, pungent smell of dog fennel.

Variants and Related Words

• Eupatorium capillifolium: The primary botanical (Latin) name for the plant commonly called dog fennel in the southeastern U.S.
• Anthemis cotula: May also be called dog fennel or stinking chamomile; another strong-smelling weed with similar white and yellow flowers.

Synonyms

• Weed
• Stinking weed (informal, descriptive)

Notes on Meaning

• The name "dog fennel" is pejorative, implying the plant is a worthless or inferior version of true fennel (), which is a fragrant culinary herb. The "dog" prefix often denotes something poor, fake, or undesirable (e.g., dog rose).

Noun

1. widespread rank-smelling weed having white-rayed flower heads with yellow discs
2. weedy plant of southeastern United States having divided leaves and long clusters of greenish flowers