The message
from "David W.E. Roberts" contains these words:

Very confusing because apparently with the bulb or florence fennel you can
also use the leaves and stems, and with herb fennel you can also eat the
bulb.

Whatever I have is certainly a perennial because it has been coming upfor
several years and never quite disappears even in the winter.

I'll be very surprised if you find any edible bulb at the bottom of
herb fennel; its straight stem is quite unlike the swollen white base of
florence fennel.

Janet.