Trigonella foenum-graecum

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Medit., SW-As., NE-Afr.) – A remarkably rare and ephemeral alien. Apparently first recorded in 1898 in a beet field in Kessel-Lo. In 1907 and 1909 seen on waste land in Vorst (Brussel) and Virton, twice as a grain alien. According to Lawalrée (1961) formerly also observed in Charleroi, Lambermont and Trazegnies. In recent times only recorded a few times, for instance in 2001 and 2015-2016, on demolition sites in Gent (scattered specimens, along with grain and wool aliens and garden escapes) and in 2015 in cracks in pavement in Deurne (Antwerpen).
Trigonella foenum-graecum is widely cultivated as spice (fenugreek) but not on a large scale in Belgium. However, it must surely be grown by immigrants in private gardens. It is remarkably scarce as an alien (compared for instance with the British Isles, see Clement & Foster 1994, Sell & Murrell 2009).

Selected literature:

Clement E.J. & Foster M.C. (1994) Alien plants of the British Isles. BSBI, London: XVIII + 590 p.
Lawalrée A. (1961) Papilionaceae. In: Robyns W. (ed.), Flore Générale de Belgique, vol. 4, fasc. 1. Jardin Botanique de l’Etat, Bruxelles: 9-134.
Sell P. & Murrell G. (2009) Flora of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. 3 Mimosaceae – Lentibulariaceae. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: XXVIII + 595 p.