TRIGONELLA FCENUM-GILECUM. 



Natural order Polygonacece. A smooth rather fleshy unisexual annual, with elliptic ovate or 

 oblong leaves. Flowers on short terminal leafless racemes. 



Atkinson says : — " Cultivated in beds near wells ; " and, according to Eoxburgh, it 

 is found cultivated in gardens all over Asia, and used by the natives in their food as well 

 as medicinally. Dymock states that it is used like sorrel, and much esteemed for its 

 medicinal properties. The juice is said to allay the pain of toothache, it checks nau- 

 sea, and promotes the appetite. The plant is also regarded as an antidote to scorpion 

 stings, and the roasted seeds are prescribed for dysentery. 



TRIGONELLA FCENUM-GILECUM, Linn.* 



[Yide Plate XCJX.] 



Fenugreek; methi (Hind.) ; methiKa, methini (Sans.) ; helbeh (Arab.). 



Natural order Lcguminosce. A nearly smooth erect annual with trifoliolate leaves, and pale- 

 yellow pea-shaped flowers. Pods 2-3 inches long, turgid. 



This plant is a native of Eastern Europe and Abyssinia. It is extensively cultivat- 

 ed throughout the Mediterranean region, also in Egypt and India. 



Grown extensively during the cold season in gardens as a potherb, and occasionally 

 in the North-Western districts of these Provinces as a fodder-crop. The seeds are also 

 used as a spicV^and medicinally. They are considered to be carminative tonic and 

 demulcent. The leaves in the form of a poultice are applied to burns, and to bring 

 down swellings ; they are said to be useful also in preventing the loss of hair. In the 

 Cawnpore district the leaves after being roasted in an earthern-ware pot closed with 

 mud are said to be very effective for disordered spleen. The plant appears to have been 

 much used by the ancient Egyptions, Greeks, and llomans both as food and medicine. 

 According to Bentley and Trimen the seedling plants are still used as food, and considered 

 a delicacy. The powdered seeds are used to some extent in veterinary practice, also 

 for flavouring certain patented cattle foods, and for rendering palatable damaged hay. 

 The peculiar odour given off from the dried plant is due to the presence of cou- 

 marine. 



In the Punjab it is largely grown as a fodder plant and given green. The seed is 

 sown at the rate of 16 seers per acre. In the Montgomery district the crop is plough- 

 ed in once and after three months, if irrigated, it will afford three cuttings, care being 

 taken to water the crop after each cutting. It is a hardy plant, and not liable to 

 disease. 



•References FL I!r.Ind.,II., 87 ; Boiss., Fl. Or., II., 70 ; Roxb., Fl. Ind. (Clarke's Ed.) 588 ; Rojle, 111. Him. Bot., 

 1 97. ; Atkinson. llim. Dist., I., 708, 752 ; Bent, und Trim.. Med. Fl., 71 ; DC, L'Orig. Fl. Cult., 89. 



