TRIGONELLA F@NUM Gracum. ORD. XXIV. Papitionaceee. A427 
Sp. Ch. T. leguminibus sessilibus strictis erectiusculis subfalcatis 
acuminatis, caule erecto. 
THE root is annual, long, tapering, whitish, and fibrous: the 
stalk is erect, round, smooth, beset with soft hairs, often branched, 
and rises about two feet in height: the leaves are oblong, obtuse, 
slightly serrated, of a disagreeable smell, and stand in ternaries 
upon the common footstalks, which are placed alternately: the 
flowers are white, and appear in pairs at the ale of the leaves: the 
calyx is funnel-shaped, striated, covered with white hairs, and 
divided at the brim into five narrow pointed segments: the corolla 
is of the papilionaceous kind, consisting of a vexillum or upper 
petal, which is oblong, erect, concave at the base, and indented 
at the apex: two ala or lateral petals, which are entire, oval, re- 
flexed, and elongated at the base; a carina or under petal,. which 
is small, and of an orbicular form: the filaments are ten, nine of 
which are united, and all furnished wih simple antherz: the 
germen Is sword-shaped, terminated by a short tapering style, 
which 3 is furnished with a simple stigma: the pericarpium is a long 
compressed falcated pod, containing numerous rhomboidal seeds, 
of a brownish yellow colour. It flowers from June till August. 
This plant is said to be a native of Montpelier; and to have been 
first cultivated in Britain by Gerard.* In dry seasons it maturates 
its seeds here very well, and, judging by our own experience, we 
think it might be cultivated to great advantage in this country. 
The seeds of Fenugreek are brought to us from the southern parts 
of France and Germany, where they are annually sown for the 
purpose of exportation to different places. 
«« Fenugreek seeds have a strong disagreeable smell, and an: 
unctuous farinaceous taste, accompanied with a slight bitterishness.. 
An ounce renders a pint of water thick and slimy. To rectified. 
: ®: Flori. Kews 
t Miller has given directions for cultivating this plant. See Dict.. 
