No images found for this plant ID: 1532.
Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "1532" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.
field garlic
Scientific Name: Allium oleraceum
Family: Liliaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Wild Garlic and Field Garlic: A Botanical Overview
This article explores the fascinating world of wild garlic and field garlic, two closely related plants often encountered in the wild. We'll delve into their taxonomy, distribution, characteristics, and uses.
Considerations for Pets
- Wild garlic and field garlic have a strong, pungent odor that may be attractive to some animals.
- These plants can be found in gardens and lawns.
- Wild garlic is bulb-forming, which may be of interest to digging pets.
Scientific and Common Names
- Scientific Names: Allium ursinum, Allium vineale, Allium oleraceum, Allium canadense
- Common Names: Ramsons, buckrams, wild garlic, broad-leaved garlic, wood garlic, bear leek, bear's garlic, field garlic, crow garlic, wild onion, meadow garlic, scallions, field onion, Jamestown-grass
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Family: Amaryllidaceae (formerly Alliaceae)
- Subfamily: Allioideae
- Wild garlic belongs to the genus Allium, which includes both garlic and onions.
Distribution and Habitat
- Allium ursinum is native to Europe and is also found in Asia.
- Wild garlic and field garlic are found in the West Country.
- Allium vineale is native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia. It has been introduced to North America.
- In California, wild garlic is found in the central North Coast and San Francisco Bay area.
- These plants are often found in woodlands, fields, pastures and lawns.
Ecological Role
- In North America, Allium vineale can become invasive in lawns and is considered a weed by farmers.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Wild garlic is a cool-season perennial that grows from late fall through early spring.
- It grows in small, grass-like clumps.
- Allium vineale grows in clumps of linear leaves.
- The plants have slender, erect stems and leaves.
- They are bulb-forming perennials, with some varieties producing aerial bulbs (bulbils).
- Leaves of wild garlic are hollow and round in cross-section.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- These plants can carpet the woodland floor among bluebells.
Quirky Facts
- The place name and surname Ramsdale are likely derived from Ramsons (Allium ursinum).