296 



FENUGREEK. 



are shortly petiolate, disposed in threes, with obovate, obso- 

 letely toothed leaflets, contracted at the ba§e, strong scented ; 

 the stipulae lanceolate, falcate, entire, and pubescent. The 

 flowers are yellowish white, axillary, solitary or twin. The 

 calyx is campanulate, nearly diaphanous, with five subulate 

 ciliated segments. The corolla is papilionaceous, a little longer 

 than the calyx ; the carina or keel is very small ; the alee or 

 wings are ovate, entire, reflexed, and elongated at the base ; 

 the vexillum or standard is oblong, erect, concave at the base, 

 and indented at the apex. The filamens are ten, nine of which 

 are united, and all furnished with simple anthers. The germen 

 is falcate, surmounted by a short tapering style, terminated by 

 a simple stigma. The fruit is a long, compressed, falcate le- 

 gume or pod, reticulated with longitudinal veins, tipped with a 

 long beak, and containing several rhomboidal seeds, sculptured 

 on the surface, and of a brownish yellow colour. Plate 20, 

 fig. 1, (a) entire flower; (b) stamens and pistil; (c) legume; 

 (c?) seed. 



This plant is a native of the south of France, Greece, Egypt, 

 Barbary, and several other warm climates. It grows in fields 

 and by road-sides, and is occasionally cultivated in this country. 

 It flowers from June to August. 



The English name Fenugreek is a corruption of Focnmn- 

 Graecum, Grecian hay, the name given by the Romans to this 

 plant, because it was very common in ancient Greece. Pliny 

 calls it silicia, as well as fenugraecum ; Columella siUqua, and 

 Varro silicula. Theophrastus designates it 0ovx.spac, cow's-horn, 

 in allusion to the shape of the seed-vessel, but the common 

 name with the Greeks was tyjXis. The present generic name, 

 Trigonella, is a compound of 'Tosig, three, and ycuvtx, an angle, 

 because of the triangular appearance of the flower. 



Fenugreek may be cvdtivated in this country, but it yields an 

 uncertain produce, on accovuit of the inconstancy of our climate. 

 The seeds are brought hither from the South of Europe. 



Qualities and general Uses. — This plant was frequently 

 employed for culinary purposes by the Egyptians, Greeks, and 

 Romans*. The seeds have been roasted as coflPee, and are said 

 to afford a yellow dye. The meal obtained from the seeds is 



• Vide Apicius Coelius. De arte cnquinaria, p. 159. 



