Introduction
- Botanical name: Fenugreek: Trigonella foenum graecum L.;
- Family : Fabaceae/ Leguminosae
- Origin : South East Europe or West Asia
- Plant part : Leaves and Seeds.
Botany
- Fresh tender leaves, stem are used as vegetable. Seeds are used as spice.
- It prevents constipation, removes indigestion, stimulates and is appetizing and diuretic.
- The leaves are quite rich in protein minerals and vitamin C.
- Common methi – Trigonella foenumgreakum – is quick growing and produces erect shoots to a height of 40-70cm.
- Kasuri methi – Trigonella corciculata also called as Champa menthi. Champa menthi is a slow growing type and remains in rosette condition during most of its vegetative growth period.
- Out of these two the former is more commonly cultivated.
Characters of common methi
- Quick growing habit.
- Characterized with erect shoots
- appearance specially when plants are in vegetative condition
- Reaches to a height of 40-70 cm
- Commonly cultivated
- Light to dark green leaves
- Small bisexual flowers white in colour
- Slender pods, long and curl shaped
- Characterized by prominent beak
- pods
Characters of champa methi
- Slow growing habit
- Shoots remain rosette
- appearance specially when plants are in vegetative condition
- Reaches < 40 cm
- Rarely cultivated
- Possess dark green leaves
- Light pink flowers
- Seeds small, flat and square shaped
- Deep furrowed pods