160 



thrashing. 

 Bombay. 



SEEDS 

 Our supplies are derived chiefly from Mogadore and 



Description. Fenugreek seeds are small (about 5 mm. long), 

 hard, and brownish yellow although the colour varies. They 

 are flattened and have a very characteristic rhomboidal outline. 

 Nearly in the centre of one of the long, narrow sides is a small 



depression in which both hilum and 

 micropyle are situated, the former being 

 distinctly visible as a whitish point ; this 

 depression is continued in the form of a 

 furrow running diagonally across part of 

 each of the adjoining sides, thus dividing 

 the seed into two unequal lobes. If the 

 seed is cut in a direction transverse to the 

 side in which the hilum lies, so as to pass 

 through both lobes of the seed (fig. 90, B), 

 it will be found that the larger lobe 

 contains two accumbent cotyledons the 

 smaller, the radicle ; both are yellowish 

 in colour, and surrounded by a darker, 

 horny, translucent endosperm, which also 

 separates the radicle from the cotyledons. 

 Soaked in water the endosperm swells and 

 yields mucilage to the surrounding liquid. 

 Entire seeds macerated in warm water 

 burst their seed-coats by the swelling of 

 the mucilage, and disclose the structure of 

 the seed. (Compare fig. 90, A) 



The odour of fenugreek, especially if 

 powdered, is strong and characteristic ; the 

 taste is disagreeable. 



FIG. 90. Fenugreek seed. 



A, vertical section, show- 

 ing the radicle, one of the 

 cotyledons, and hilum, n. 



B, transverse section, 

 showing the radicle, r ; 

 both cotyledons, c ; and 

 endosperm, e. Magni- 

 fied. (Moeller.) 



The student should observe. 



(a) The characteristic shape, 



(b) The cotyledons, radicle, and endosperm (in trans verse section), 



(c) The characteristic odour. 



Constituents. Fenugreek contains 28 per cent, of mucilage, which 

 resides in the endosperm, not, as in the case of mustard and linseed, 

 in the seed-coats ; it yields by hydrolysis the sugars mannose and 

 galactose. The drug contains, further, about 22 per cent, of proteids, 

 6 per cent, of fixed oil, and two alkaloids, trigonelline and choline, 

 the latter being a frequent constituent of both animal and vegetable 

 substances. 



Uses. The seeds are now used in veterinary medicine and occa- 

 sionally as a spice in curry powders. 



