The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Narthex \Nar"thex\, n. [L., giant fennel, Gr. na`rqhx.]
   1. (Bot.) A tall umbelliferous plant (Ferula communis). See
      Giant fennel, under Fennel.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Arch.) The portico in front of ancient churches;
      sometimes, the atrium or outer court surrounded by
      ambulatories; -- used, generally, for any vestibule,
      lobby, or outer porch, leading to the nave of a church.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Ferula \Fer"u*la\, n. [L. ferula giant fennel (its stalks were
   used in punishing schoolboys), rod, whip, fr. ferire to
   strike; akin to OHG. berjan, Icel. berja. Cf. Ferule.]
   1. A ferule. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl.
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   2. The imperial scepter in the Byzantine or Eastern Empire.
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   3. [capitalized] A genus of plants of the parsley family
      Apiaceae (of the order Umbelliferae), including some
      yielding asafetida. Members include Ferula asafoetida
      (Ferula foetida), the giant fennel (Ferula communis),
      and Ferula orientalis.
      [PJC]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Fennel \Fen"nel\ (f[e^]n"n[e^]l), n. [AS. fenol, finol, from L.
   feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F.
   fenouil. Cf. Fenugreek. Finochio.] (Bot.)
   A perennial plant of the genus F[ae]niculum (F[ae]niculum
   vulgare), having very finely divided leaves. It is
   cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of
   its seeds.
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         Smell of sweetest fennel.                --Milton.
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         A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling
         bottle of the tender sex.                --S. G.
                                                  Goodrich.
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   Azorean fennel, or Sweet fennel, (F[ae]niculum dulce).
      It is a smaller and stouter plant than the common fennel,
      and is used as a pot herb.

   Dog's fennel (Anthemis Cotula), a foul-smelling European
      weed; -- called also mayweed.

   Fennel flower (Bot.), an herb (Nigella) of the Buttercup
      family, having leaves finely divided, like those of the
      fennel. Nigella Damascena is common in gardens. Nigella
      sativa furnishes the fennel seed, used as a condiment,
      etc., in India. These seeds are the "fitches" mentioned in
      Isaiah (xxviii. 25).

   Fennel water (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It
      is stimulant and carminative.

   Giant fennel (Ferula communis), has stems full of pith,
      which, it is said, were used to carry fire, first, by
      Prometheus.

   Hog's fennel, a European plant (Peucedanum officinale)
      looking something like fennel.
      [1913 Webster]