66 ALIEN FLORA OF BRITAIN 



England on waste ground where siftings of foreign 

 grain have been deposited. 



Trigonella Foenum-graecum, L. De Candolle was 

 of opinion that this species was not indigenous in 

 Europe, but came from the East with the Aryans, and 

 it was certainly cultivated by the ancient Greeks and 

 Romans, and was, even before their time, cultivated in 

 India. It is not claimed as a native of the Continent 

 of Europe. In Somersetshire and one or two other 

 counties in England it has been considered to be 

 indigenous by local botanists, but in consideration of 

 its recognised native geographical range, and also of 

 its wide distribution as a weed, it will be necessary 

 to reconsider the whole question before admitting it 

 as a native of Britain. 



Trigonella gladiata, Stev. Native of stony hills of 

 the Mediterranean region. A weed of cultivated ground 

 in the greater part of the same area. Occasionally 

 recorded in connection with foreign grain siftings in 

 England. 



Trigonella hamosa, L. An abundant weed of culti- 

 vated ground in the east of the Mediterranean area, 

 recorded several times in England as a grain alien, and 

 once as introduced with fodder or cotton from Egypt. 



Trigonella laciniata, L. Native of marshes in Syria 

 and Egypt, and occurring as a weed of cultivated fields 

 in the Eastern Mediterranean area. There is a specimen 

 in the British Museum Herbarium from Mitcham in 

 Surrey. The species may have been introduced with 

 imported barley from the East. 



