Allium vineale

Crow garlic, Field Garlic, Onion grass

Amaryllidaceae Edible: Flowers, Leaves, Root, Bulb Potential hazards — see below 34,974 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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Summary

Allium vineale (wild garlic, onion grass, crow garlic or stag's garlic) is a perennial, bulb-forming species of wild onion, native to Europe, northwestern Africa, and the Middle East. The species was introduced in Australia and North America, where it has become an invasive species.

Description

An onion family plant. It is a bulb plant. The plant has round stems which are almost filled with pith. It can grow 1 m high. The leaves are like cylinders and are hollow. There are 2-4 leaves and they are cylinder shaped. They sheath the lower half of the flowering stalk. The flowers are pink, white or greenish. The young flower heads usually have a bract and a sharp green spike at the top. Some bulbils occur in the head.

Edible Uses

The leaves are rather stringy but work well as a garlic substitute, used raw or cooked. Available from late autumn through the following summer, they make a pleasant addition to salads when used sparingly. The bulbs, around 10–20mm in diameter, are used as a flavouring and have a very strong flavour and odour. The bulbils can also be eaten raw or cooked — they are small and fiddly to work with but carry a strong garlic-like flavour.

Traditional Uses

The bulb is used to flavour salads and meat. The tender young tips are finely chopped and used in salads.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The whole plant is antiasthmatic, a blood purifier, carminative, cathartic, diuretic, expectorant, hypotensive, stimulant, and vasodilator. A tincture is used to prevent worms and colic in children and as a remedy for croup. Eating the raw root can help reduce blood pressure and ease shortness of breath. As with other members of this genus, the plant contains sulphur compounds responsible for its onion-like flavour. Regular inclusion in the diet may help reduce blood cholesterol levels, support digestive health, and tonify the circulatory system.

Known Hazards

There have been cases of poisoning caused by the consumption, in large quantities and by some mammals, of this species. Dogs seem to be particularly susceptible.

Distribution

It is a temperate and Mediterranean climate plant. It grows in dry pasture and cultivated and fallow land. Tasmania Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Caucasus, Chile, China, Croatia, Denmark, Europe, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean*, Middle East, New Zealand, North America, Norway, Portugal, Scandinavia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Sweden, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA,

Cultivation

Prefers a sunny position in a light well-drained soil. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply. Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other. This species is a pernicious weed of grassland in Britain, spreading freely by means of its bulbils. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.

Propagation

This plant propagates itself readily without any special assistance. Bulbils are produced in abundance during summer and are the primary means by which the plant spreads.

Other Uses

The plant juice can be used as a moth repellent, and the whole plant is said to repel insects and moles. The juice can also be rubbed onto exposed skin to deter biting insects, scorpions, and similar creatures.

Other Information

It is foraged and used in restaurants in Sweden. It is sold in local markets.

Notes

There are about 300-700 Allium species. Most species of Allium are edible (Flora of China). All alliums are edible but they may not all be worth eating! They have also been put in the family Alliaceae.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY

Death Camas

Toxicoscordion venenosum

Craig Martin https://www.inaturalist.org/people/craigmartin

Safe

Crow garlic

Allium vineale

Death Camas: NO garlic or onion smell, flat grass-like leaves, cream/white flowers.

Crow garlic: Strong garlic smell, hollow round leaves, small bulbils in flower head.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Bulb	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Leaves	—	—	—	—	130	—	—	—
Flowers	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Synonyms

Allium compactum Thuill.and many others

Also Known As

Aglio selvatico, Aie, Ajillo, Ajo silvestre, Pasto ajo, Stag's garlic, Strandlok

References (34)

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Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 487
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 66
Cerne, M., 1992, Wild Plants from Slovenia used as Vegetables. Acta Horticulturae 318.

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