122 SEEDS. 



(62) Fcenugreek Seeds. 



The seeds of Trigonella Fcenum-grcecum, Linn. (N.O. 

 Leguminosse). 



The seed-coats resemble in structure those of most of the 

 seeds belonging to the same natural order. They exhibit three 

 distinct layers. 



The outer layer (epidermis) consists of a single row of palisade 

 cells. In section (s'c') these cells appear about five or six times 

 as long as they are wide ; they are slightly conical at their 

 upper extremity, but flat at the lower, and have strongly 

 thickened and highly refractive walls. In surface view 

 (sc) they have a polygonal outline, but vary in aspect 

 according as the upper (see) or lower (sci) extremity is under 

 observation. (Compare the description of leguminous flours, 

 pp. 41 to 45.) 



The middle layer is constituted by a single row of cells 

 of remarkable shape, known as "hour-glass" or " bearer" 

 cells. The upper end of these cells is smaller than the lower, 

 and in the middle they are usually somewhat contracted (cV). 

 The radial walls are provided at intervals with bar-like 

 thickenings and the cells thus acquire somewhat the aspect 

 of a shallow wicker basket. In surface view they exhibit the 

 polygonal outline of the smaller (upper) end, and that of the 

 larger (lower) end, the two being connected by the bar-like 

 thickenings (cs). 



The inner layer is rather thick and consists of flattened, 

 tangentially elongated cells which, in surface view, show certain 

 differences in structure. They may be polygonal and tolerably 

 uniform (p) or they may be irregular, branching and separated 

 by intercellular spaces (p r ). 



Next to the seed-coats is the endosperm, which consists of 

 several rows of polygonal cells containing mucilage which, in 

 contact with water, swells considerably. These mucilaginous 

 cells have a very characteristic appearance (cm), 



The cells of the cotyledons vary a little in appearance 

 according as they are derived from the outer (coe) or the inne 

 part (coi) of the cotyledons. They contain starch and 

 aleurone, the former being sometimes in distinct grains, 

 sometimes gelatinised. 



Powdered fcenugreek is largely used as an ingredient in 

 various cattle foods, and it is, therefore, useful to be acquainted 

 with its anatomical characters. 



The diagnostic characters of fcenugreek powder are : 



(a) The palisade epidermis of the seed-coat. 



(b) The basket-like hypodermal cells. 



(c) The mucilaginous cells of the endosperm 



