Wild Garlic, Field Garlic, Wild Onion
Kingdom: Plantae; Division: Magnoliophyta; Class: Liliopsida; Order: Asparagales; Family: Amaryllidaceae; Genus: Allium; Species: Allium vineale · Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis or Onion family) · Specialized; the leaves are simple, hollow, and cylindrical (caniform), resembling grass but tubular. This is a deciduous perennial.
Species
Allium vineale
Leaf Type
Specialized; the leaves are simple, hollow, and cylindrical (caniform), resembling grass but tubular. This is a deciduous perennial.
Family
Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis or Onion family)
Shape
Linear and cylindrical (terete); the leaves are hollow and resemble chives.
Size
Typically 10-60 cm long and 2-4 mm wide. The specimen shown is the reproductive scape (stalk) which is usually 30-90 cm tall.
Margin
Entire (smooth).
Arrangement
Basal; leaves emerge from the base of the bulb and alternate around the lower part of the stem.
Rarity
Very Common; often regarded as a persistent weed in lawns and agricultural fields.
Color & Pattern
Dull green to bluish-green; the specimen shown is dried, appearing straw-colored to light tan with remnants of green on the scape.
Venation Pattern
Parallel (characteristic of monocots).
Texture & Surface
Smooth (glabrous) and waxy; leaves are hollow and round in cross-section.
Description
A bulbous perennial herb characterized by a strong garlic odor when crushed. It produces a tall, leafless flowering stalk (scape) topped with a globular umbel containing small pinkish-white flowers and/or a collection of small green-to-purple aerial bulblets.
Key Features
Hollow, round leaves; distinct garlic/onion scent; umbel with papery bracts at the base; presence of aerial bulblets in the flower head.
Habitat
Disturbed areas, meadows, lawns, pastures, and roadsides; prefers moist, nitrogen-rich soils but is highly adaptable.
Geographic Range
Native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia; widely naturalized and often considered invasive in North America and Australia.
Condition Notes
The specimen is a pressed, dried herbarium sample in fair condition. It consists of the inflorescence and a portion of the scape. The natural pigments have faded due to the drying process.
Interesting Facts
The plant is famous for tainting the milk of cows that graze on it, giving the milk a garlic-like flavor. It can also contaminate wheat harvests with its bulblets.
Medicinal & Uses
Used traditionally as a diuretic and flavoring agent. Modern use is primarily culinary (similar to chives or garlic), though it is stronger and more pungent than cultivated varieties.
Ecological Role
Provides nectar to various pollinators including bees and butterflies. Its bulbs provide food for some small mammals, though it is often unpalatable to large herbivores.
Similar Species
Allium canadense (Wild Onion) which has flat, solid leaves rather than hollow ones; Allium oleraceum which has different floral structures.
Foraging Tips
Best identified in spring; always perform a 'crush and sniff' test to confirm the garlic/onion scent. Avoid plants without this scent as they may be toxic mimics like Death Camas.
Toxicity Warning
Edible for humans in moderation, but Highly Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses due to N-propyl disulfide which causes oxidative damage to red blood cells.