406 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
The pure ash contained (per cent.) 
K,0 
Na*0 
CaO 
MgO 
FejOj 
PA 
1 . 
19-37 
7-60 
3073 
1 19 
4-71 
8-24 
2. 
18-85 
7-65 
2802 
0-96 
5-08 
7-87 
S0 3 
SiOj 
01. 
1 . 
4-35 
2197 
123 
2. 
3-91 
2519 
0-99. 
In composition, fenugreek resembles Trifolium incarnatum.— ]. Ch. S. 
LXXVIII. pt. II. 1900, p. 364. 
Trigonella Foenumgroeeum. 
The crushed seeds yield only 0 0-14 per cent, of a light brown, neutral, 
volatile oil, possessing the distinct odour of the seeds. It has the sp.gr. 0 870 
at 13-5° and [a]o = +8°. It is readily soluble in absolute and 90 per cent, 
alcohol , but its solubility in 80 per cent, alcohol is only 1 : 460.— J. 8. Ch. I., 
April 16, 1903, p. 439. 
347. Melilotus par vi flora, Desf., h.f.b.i., n. 89. 
Syn. : — Trifblium indicum, Linn. Roxb. 588. 
Sans. : — Vana-metkika. 
Vern. : — Sinjee (Pb ) ; Zir (Sind.) ; Banmethi (H.) 
Habitat : — Western Peninsula, Bengal and U. P. 
An under-shrub, 2-3ft. high, with firm, slender branches and 
membranous leaves, thinly clothed with adpressed grey hairs. 
The branches soon turn glabrescent. Stipules minute setaceous. 
Petioles f-fin. Leaflets always 3, obovate, the end one 1-1§ 
in. long, stalked, the side ones opposite. Racemes congested,, 
6-12-flowered, usually sessile, seldom over an inch long. Calyx 
x l 2 -|in., white-canescent ; teeth long, setaceous. Corolla purp- 
lish-red, twice the Calyx. Pod straight, tetragonous, 6-10* 
seeded, not torulose, §-li- in. long ; the firm glabrescent valves 
obtusely keeled. 
Use. — The seeds are said to be useful in bowel complaints 
and infantile diarrhoea, given as a gruel (Murray). 
348. M. officinalis, Willd., h. f. b. i., ii. 89. 
Syn. : — Trifolium officinale, Willd. Roxb. 588. 
Vern. : — Aspurk (H.) ■ Tireer (Pers.); Bun-piring (B.). 
Habitat : — Nubra and Ladak. 
