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Wild Garlic
( Allium vineale )
The word "allium" is an ancient Latin word for garlic. The name is now applied to all the plants closely related to garlic.
I think this is Wild Garlic. So far it is the only allium I have found that matches. For an excellent collection of photos go to http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/allvi.htm and decide if you think this is the same.
The above site of the Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology & Weed Science at Virginia Tech gives this great tip which we will have to look into:
Identifying Characteristics: Round hollow leaves and garlic-like odor. Wild garlic is often confused with wild onion (Allium canadense), but the two may easily be distinguished after a closer examination of the leaf cross section. The leaves of wild garlic are hollow and round, while those of wild onion are more flat and 'solid'.
See the skinny, arching stem? The fat leaves belong to an iris. You do not see wild garlic leaves in this photo, just arching flower stems (2).
Sorry, no flower pictures yet.
A site at the University of Kentucky says it is almost impossible to tell Allium vineale from Allium canadense! Nice photo of the flower there....but that's it.
I couldn't resist setting this photo up. :-)
The bulblets clustered below the old flowers which are forming seeds.
This plant shows up in the Weed Science pages of many a university web site. It is a big problem to farmers and dairymen sometimes. If the little bulblets get mixed into grain, like wheat, the flour will taste of garlic when milled!
If the plants are eaten in any quantity by cows the milf will taste of garlic! YUCK!!!!!!
Did you know garlic ice cream does exist already at the Garlic Festival in Gilroy (CA?) .
Leaf looks hollow here.
J. David Eisenberg, from San Jose, California has taken photos of the festival which he posted on his web site.
to Chives to Egyptian Onion
Study Pointers:
- Allium Awareness Week. There is no such thing but you can have a personal one! For one week try to find out how many times you eat or see Allium Family plants. Onions, garlic and chives are what you should keep an eye out for in your meals and at the grocery store. Check product's ingredient labels for hidden alliums! Garlic is in a ton of stuff.
- How many different varieties of onions are there for sale at the grocery store? Ask the produce manager where they come from (tell her/him you are doing a report). Which do they sell the most of? Which are the most expensive? Do they know why they are more expensive (harder to grow, or fewer grown so the farmer has to get more money for them)?
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