cultivated fenugreek
Trigonella corniculata
Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae
What it is like
Trigonella corniculata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Height (m): 0.6
Where it is found
Cultivated ground, dry banks and grassy places.
Europe - Mediterranean to W. Asia.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Young leaves and stem tips - cooked as a potherb.
Medicine
Rating: 1
The fruit is astringent, bitter and styptic. It is applied externally to swellings and bruises.
Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
Bitter: Increases the appetite and stimulates digestion by acting on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Also increases the flow of bile, stimulates repair of the gut wall lining and regulates the secretion of insulin and glucogen.
Styptic: An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.
Other
Rating:
Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil
How it is grown
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in most parts of the country. It is occasionally cultivated for its edible young leaves, there is at least one named variety. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil. Prefers a well-drained loamy soil in full sun. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.
Propagating it: Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in situ.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Annual
Hardiness:
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist