Crow garlic, Field Garlic, Onion grass
Allium vineale

Family: Amaryllidaceae

What it is like

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.

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.

Where it is found

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

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

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

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

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, root, bulb

How it is grown

Plants are grown from the bulbs and the bulbils.

Its other names

Local names

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

Synonyms

Allium compactum Thuill.; and many others