Fenugreek Stalkball
Fenugreek Stalkball - Phleogena faginea
The small tough fruitbodies occur in clusters on the bark of deciduous trees, especially beech. The head is ball-shaped, 1 to 3 mm across, and is intially greyish white, becoming dark grey or brownish with age.
The smell of fenugreek (like mild curry-powder) becomes stronger as the fungus dries out, and is especially noticeable if a few specimens are placed in a sealed pot for a couple of days.
Similar in general appearance to a slime mould, but with a tough texture and usually larger.
Photograph the fungus in its habitat. Note the host tree species in your comments, and note the smell (this may take a while to develop in a closed container.)
On the bark of dead hardwood, mostly Beech but occasionally other species.
Autumn to winter.
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
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Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020











