Trigonella caerulea

Trigonella caerulea

Blue fenugreek or blue melilot (Trigonella caerulea (L.) Ser.) is a herbaceous species belonging to the Fabaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Fabales Order,
Fabaceae family,
Faboideae subfamily,
Trifolieae tribe,
Genus Trigonella,
T. caerulea species.
Basionimo is the term:
– Trifolium caeruleum L ..
The terms are synonymous:
– Amoria vivianii C.Presl;
– Amoria vivianii C.Presl ex Steud.;
– Folliculigera coerulea (L.) Pasq.;
– Grammocarpus caeruleus (L.) Gasp., 1853;
– Grammocarpus caeruleus (L.) Schur;
– Melilotus caeruleus (L.) Desr.;
– Melilotus caeruleus var. connatus (Bernh. ex Rchb.) Rchb.f.;
– Melilotus caeruleus var. densiflorus Neilr.;
– Melilotus coeruleus (L.) Desr.;
– Melilotus connatus Bernh.;
– Melilotus connatus Bernh. ex Rchb.;
– Melilotus hortensis Gaterau;
– Sertula caerulea (L.) Kuntze;
– Teliosma caerulea (L.) Alef.;
– Teliosma caerulea var. decumbens Alef.;
– Teliosma caerulea var. sativa Alef.;
– Telis caerulea (L.) Kuntze;
– Trifoliastrum caeruleum (L.) Moench;
– Trifolium melilotus var. caeruleum L.;
– Trifolium melilotus-caeruleus L., 1753;
– Trigonella caerulea subsp. connata (Bernh. ex Rchb.) Asch. & Graebn.;
– Trigonella caerulea subsp. sativa (Alef.) Thell.;
– Trigonella coerulea (L.) Ser.;
– Trigonella connata Meyer;
– Trigonella connata Meyer ex Steud.;
– Trigonella melilotus var. caerulea (Ser.) Asch. & Graebn.;
– Trigonella melilotus-caerulea (L.) Asch. & Graebn.;
– Trigonella melilotus-coeruleus (L.) Asch. & Graebn..

Etymology –
The term Trigonella comes from the Greek τρίγωνος trígonos triangular: for the leaves composed of three leaflets.
The specific epithet caerulea comes from cerulean, the color of the clear daytime sky, from caélum cielo: blue, bluish, light blue, referring to the color of the flowers.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Trigonella caerulea is a native plant, most likely from the Mediterranean and, probably, derived from Trigonella procumbens (Besser) Rchb.
In Italy it is present in many regions.
Its original habitat is not certain as it is now a naturalized or cultivated plant and sometimes present as a weed or on the edges of roads, etc. and grows in rather arid disturbed environments, below the mountain belt.

Description –
Trigonella caerulea is an annual plant that grows in height between 30 and 60 cm and with densely branched stems.
It has obovate or lanceolate leaves, 2–5 cm long, 1–2 cm wide and toothed on the upper part.
Its flowers are collected in compact, globular racemes, longer than the leaves. The sepals are twice as short as the corolla, its teeth are equal to the tube. The corolla is 5.5-6.5 mm long and blue in color.
It blooms in April-May.
The fruits, produced by self-pollination, are pods, erect or slightly curved, compressed, 4-5 mm long with a 2 mm beak.
The seeds are small and elongated and ripen in May-June.

Cultivation –
Trigonella caerulea is an annual plant that is sometimes harvested in nature for local use as food, medicine and insect repellent.
It was once widely cultivated, especially in Europe, but also in many other temperate zones; it is currently scarcely cultivated, as well as in the Alps and in the Caucasus.
this plant prefers well-drained clay soil in full sun.
It is grown in the Mediterranean for its leaves which are used as a condiment.
Like other legumes it has a symbiotic relationship with some soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is used 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 remove only the aerial parts of the plant, allowing the roots in the soil to rot and release their nitrogen.
Propagation occurs by seed. It is advisable to soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring directly in the open field.

Customs and Traditions –
Trigonella caerulea, known in various ways, in various regions, such as: cerulean fenugreek, blue melilot, Georgian: ულუმბო, უცხო სუნელი – ulumbo, utskho suneli.
All parts of the plant give off a characteristic odor, which is why it is still used today as a flavoring in some countries.
Among the edible uses it should be remembered that young seedlings are eaten with oil and salt.
The leaves and young plants are eaten cooked.
The powdered dried leaves and flowers are used as a topping and dye for bread, etc. They are also used as a condiment in soups and potato dishes.
A decoction of the leaves is used as an aromatic tea and as a flavoring for Chinese tea.
The seeds are used to flavor foods.
In medicinal use, in ancient times, it was used in folk medicine.
Among others, agroforestry ones are mentioned for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Previously the species was used as an insecticide.

Preparation Method –
Trigonella caerulea is a plant less cultivated and used today but which, above all in the past, was used in the food and medicinal fields.
The young seedlings are eaten with oil and salt and the leaves and young plants are eaten cooked. The powdered dried leaves and flowers are used as a topping and dye for bread, etc.
An aromatic tea is obtained from the leaves and as a flavoring for Chinese tea.
The seeds are used to flavor foods.
Furthermore, this plant is widely used in Georgian cuisine, where it is known as utskho suneli. It is one of the ingredients of the Georgian khmeli suneli spice mix.
The smell and taste are similar to ordinary fenugreek, but milder.
In Switzerland it is used to flavor the traditional schabziger cheese.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/132178402/original.jpeg
– https://plant.depo.msu.ru/open/public/item/MW0404589/img/0.jpg?gbif

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.