N. 0. LEGUMIN0S.E. 405 



Vern. :— Methi(B. and H.) ; Vendayam (Tarn.); Mentulu 

 (Tel.); Menthya(Kan.j. 



Habitat : —Cultivated in many parts of India, but is wild in 

 Kashmir and the Punjab. 



Annual, robust, erect, sub-glabrous herbs. Stipules not la- 

 ciniate. Leaflets toothed, f-1 in. long, oblanceolate oblong. 

 Flowers 1-2, sessile in the axils of the leaves. Calyx \-\ in., 

 teeth linear. Corolla much exserted. Pod 2-3in. long, turgid, 

 10-20-seeded, with a long, persistent beak, often falcate. 



Use : — Fenugreek seeds are considered carminative, tonic, 

 and aphrodisiac. Several confections made with this article 

 are recommended for use in dyspepsia with loss of appetite, 

 in the diarrhoea of puerperal women, and in rheumatism 

 {Hindu Mat. Med.) An infusion of the seeds is given by the 

 Natives to small-pox patients as a cooling drink. Mahomedan 

 writers describe the plant and seeds as hot and dry, suppurative, 

 aperient, diuretic, emmenagogue, useful in dropsy, chronic 

 cough, and enlargements of the spleen and liver. A poultice 

 of the leaves is said to be of use in external and internal 

 swellings and burns, and to prevent the hair falling off. The 

 flour of the seeds is used as a poultice, and is applied to the 

 skin in cosmetic (Dymock). The use of fenugreek as a medi- 

 cinal agent is now obsolete in Europe and the United States. 

 Formerly the seeds were employed in the preparation of emol- 

 lient cataplasms, fomentations and enemata, but were never 

 given internally. The powdered seeds are still used in veteri- 

 nary practice (Bentley and Trimeri). 



The seeds being toasted and afterwards infused are used 



by Native practitioners in Southern India for dysentery 



(Ainslie.) In the Concan, the leaves are used both externally 



and internally, on account of their cooling properties (Dymock). 



Fenugreek. 



Analysis of 2 samples gave the following results :— 



Nitrogenous matter ... ... 13*74 and 1302 p. c. 



Fat ... ... ... ... 3*31 and 3-54 „ 



Crude fibre .,. ... ... 3175 and 29*36 „ 



Nitrogen-free extract ... ... 45*79 and 48*14 . „ 



Ash ... ... ... ... 5*42 and 5*94 „ in the 



dry matter. 



