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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

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