Forage Plants of Australia 21 



ORDER LEGUMINOS^E. 



TRIGONELLA SUAVISSIMA, LIXDL. 

 " Scented, or Darling Clover." 



Flora Aust., Vol. II, p. 187. 



AN annual (though Borne of our correspondents say perennial) plant with 

 prostrate or ascending stems of 1 foot to 3 feet. Its leaves are arranged 

 on long stalks and are composed of three leaflets, the middle one being 

 stalked ; they are broadly obovate in shape, more or less denticulate at the 

 edges, and about 1 an inch long. The flowers are yellow and arranged in 

 axillary umbel-like heads on long stalks as illustrated at figure 1, or in 

 sessile clusters in the leaf axils. These are succeeded by linear curved pods, 

 from inch to f inch long, as illustrated at figure 2. This plant is found 

 principally in the interior of all the Australian colonies, except Queensland, 

 and in some situations it is moderately plentiful. Its free-seeding qualities 

 have rendered it somewhat proof against extermination. When it is found 

 growing on rich black soils that are subject to periodical inundations, it 

 produces a great amount of herbage, which stock of all descriptions are 

 particularly partial to, and it is extremely fattening. Though this plant 

 grows best on rich soils, still it is often found growing on stony rises, and 

 in such situations during the spring of the year it makes considerable 

 growth which is a valuable addition to other herbage, ere the indigenous 

 grasses start into growth. The plant would well repay systematic culti- 

 vation in the interior of this country, where exotic clovers would not 

 succeed, on account of the great climatic heat. Besides the valuable green 

 forage it produces, crops of it might be grown, cut, and turned into hay or 

 ensilage, which would prove a valuable standby to the stockowner during 

 long droughts, and when other feed is somewhat scarce. The seeds of this 

 plant could be saved in a somewhat similar w r ay to lucerne or clover seed, 

 and as it is produced in fair quantities, no great outlay would be required 

 to enter upon its cultivation with every prospect of success. The seed is 

 best sown during the early spring or early autumn months ; from eight to 

 twelve pounds of seed would be sufficient to sow an acre. Sir Thomas 

 Mitchell speaks of this highly fragrant clover-like herb in the highest 

 terms as a forage plant on several occasions, and at Vol I., p. 254 of his 

 book, he says : " The perfume of this herb, its freshness and flavour, induced 

 me to to try it as a vegetable, and we found it to be delicious, tender as 

 spinach, and to preserve a very green colour when boiled." This opinion has 

 been confirmed by other persons. It is the only species of the genus found 

 in Australia, and it is endemic. 



The genus Trigonella, however, is largely represented by species found in 

 Southern Europe, Western and Central Asia, and Northern Africa, all of 

 them possessing a heavy penetrating odour. Mr. A. Smith says : " Trigonella 

 f oenum grcecum, the Fenugreek, is an erect annual, about 2 feet high, a native 

 of the Mediterranean region, but cultivated in India and other warm 

 countries, and occasionally in England. The seeds of Fenugreek were held 

 in high repute among the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, for 

 medicinal and culinary purposes, but at the present time their use in medi- 

 cine is confined to veterinary practice. They have a powerful odour of 

 coumarine, and are largely used for flavouring the so-called concentrated 

 cattle foods, and for rendering damaged hay palatable ; Fenugreek powder 

 being the principal ingredient in most of the quack nostrums, which find so 

 much favour amongst ignorant grooms and horaekeepers." 



