Fenugreek
(Trigonella foenum-graecum)
A native of southern Europe, this hairless member of the pea family produces pods filled with aromatic seeds. The minute you catch wind of them, you remember that they are a main ingredient of curry powder. The "
foenum-graecum" means "Greek hay," to describe that fresh-mown smell.
These seeds--dried into yellow-brown chunks with a line incised down the middle--are very high in mucilage, and are used not only in preparations that soothe the skin, but also to emulsify food and drugs.