Fenugreek greek

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) belongs to the subfamily Faboideae within the family Fabaceae (legumes) and is closely related to the blue fenugreek (Trigonella caerulea). Fenugreek has its range in southern and central Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, China, and Australia.

Fenugreek grows as an annual plant with a herbaceous appearance and reaches growth heights of 30 to 80 cm. Trigonellafoenum-graecum has a strong, distinctive odor. The plant sprouts cream to yellowish white flowers that bloom between the months of April to July.

The clover-like foliage leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade. The petioles of the leaves have a length of 6 to 15 mm. The 3 equal, elongated to oval leaves have a length of 1.5 to 4 cm and a width of 0.4 to 1.5 cm. Fenugreek forms long, narrow, horn-shaped legumes that are 7 to 12 cm long and contain 10 to 20 seeds. When the seeds are crushed, they emit an intense odor. The fruits ripen in the months of July to September.

Phytotherapeutically, the mature seeds (fenugreek seeds - Trigonellae foenugraeci semen, Foenugraeci semen) of the plant are used. The seeds are also used in spice mixtures such as bpsw. curry.

Fenugreek is one of the oldest cultivated plants of mankind, which was already used in ancient Egyptian medicine and later in Hippocratic medicine as a proven tonic.

Trigonella foenum-graecum is the parent plant of Foenugraeci Semen, the official fenugreek seed.

1. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/bockshornklee.php
2. https://plants.fnr.de/industrialplants/medicinalplants/plants-database