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In composition, fenugreek resembles Trifolium incarnatum—— LXXVIII. pt. II. 1900, p. 364.

The crushed seeds yield only 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]D =+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. S. Ch. I., April 15, 1903, p. 439.

Syn. : — Trifolium indicum, Linn, Roxb. 588.

Sans. : — Vana-methika.

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 ½-¾in. Leaflets always 3, obovate, the end one 1-1½ in. long, stalked, the side ones opposite. Racemes congested, 6-12-flowered, usually sessile, seldom over an inch long. Calyx 1/12-⅛in., white-canescent ; teeth long, setaceous. Corolla purplish-red, twice the Calyx. Pod straight, tetragonous, 6-10- seeded, not torulose, ¾-1¼ in. long ; the firm glabrescent valves obtusely keeled.

Use. — The seeds are said to be useful in bowel complaints and infantile diarrhœa, given as a gruel (Murray).

Syn. : — Trifolium officinale, Willd. Roxb. 588.

Vern. :— Aspurk (H.) ; Tireer (Pers.); Bun-piring (B.). Habitat : — Nubra and Ladak.