FENUGREEK, Trigonella foenum-graecum L.
Origin:
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) belongs to the very old genus
Trigonella L. Fenugreek has spread as a cultivated crop across the Asian and the
African continents. Later it was also introduced to Europe and America. The
plant became agriculturally important as a forage crop and medical plant.
Description:
stem – erect or ascending and attains a height of O,4-O,6 m
leaf – short-petiolated, the leaflets are obovate to lanceolate, the
stipules are large, ovate pointed and finely pubescent
flower – singly or in pair are born in leaf axils, calyx is
tube-like, pale yellow corolla is twice the length of the calyx, wings are as
long as the banner, the keel is rounded at the tip
fruit – elongated sabre-like pods are free from hairs, straight or
distinctly curved, seeds are yellow to light brown, 10–20 of seeds per
pod
Economical traits:
- annual forage crop (consumed not only by domestic animals but also by wild
ones)
- it is consumed raw as a good quality vegetable with a high content of
ascorbic acid
- seeds of this aromatic legume are used as medicine and for food employment
(digestive troubles, to treat neurastenia, in reconvalescence, it promotes
appetite, helps to reduce the level of blood sugar and blood pressure, externaly
it is used to treat unhealed wounds, arthosis, ulcers, bruises)
- its use in food industry as a cheese flavouring and as spice for meat,
smoked foods, soups
- in veterinary medicine it is used as a drug promoting lactation in cattle
and higher food intake
Site map
Research Institute for Fodder Crops, Ltd. Troubsko | Zahradní 1, 664 41 Troubsko
Fax: +420 547 138 800 | Phone: +420 547 138 811, individual number +420 547 138 8XX (XX - personal line)| GSM gateway: +420 731 840 178 | E-mail:
vupt (at) vupt.cz