Common Name: Crow Garlic

General Information

Allium vineale is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing 2 - 4 leaves 20 - 60cm long and a flowering scape 30 - 120cm tall from an ovoid bulb around 8 - 20mm in diameter. The bulb divides freely, the plant also spreading by bulbils, to form a large cluster of plants[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Allium vineale is a noxious weed, apparently introduced to N. America from Europe in colonial times. The small, wheat-sized bulbils frequently contaminated wheat that was grown in infested areas. Bread made from such wheat was garlic-flavored, and cows grazing in infested pastures produce garlic-flavored milk[]. Modern screening methods have eliminated this problem, but not before the plant has become established in N. America. Although native, this species is also a pernicious weed of grassland in Britain[], spreading freely by means of its bulbils[].

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[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Almost throughout Europe; N. Africa - Morocco, Algeria; W. Asia - Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, Caucasus

Habitat

Fields and roadsides to elevations of 450 metres in Britain, often a serious weed of pastures[]. Alpine meadows, riverbanks, marshes, and as weed of cultivated land; at elevations from 25 - 2,650 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Bulb
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Allium vineale
Prefers a sunny position in a light well-drained soil[].
The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, ]. Rather stringy, they are used as a garlic substitute[, , ]. The leaves are available from late autumn until the following summer, when used sparingly they make a nice addition to the salad bowl[, , ]. The leaves are used as an ingredient in minestrella soup, a complex blend of wild vegetables eaten in northwest Tuscany, Italy[].

Bulb - used as a flavouring[, , ]. Rather small, with a very strong flavour and odour[]. The bulbs are 10 - 20mm in diameter[].

Bulbils - raw or cooked. Rather small and fiddly, they have a strong garlic-like flavour[].

Medicinal

The whole plant is antiasthmatic, blood purifier, carminative, cathartic, diuretic, expectorant, hypotensive, stimulant and vasodilator[, ]. A tincture is used to prevent worms and colic in children, and also as a remedy for croup[]. The raw root can be eaten to reduce blood pressure and also to ease shortness of breath[].

Although no other specific mention of medicinal uses has been seen for this species, members of this genus are in general very healthy additions to the diet. They contain sulphur compounds (which give them their onion flavour) and when added to the diet on a regular basis they help reduce blood cholesterol levels, act as a tonic to the digestive system and also tonify the circulatory system[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Allium species usually grow well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but they inhibit the growth of legumes[, , ]. They are, in general, bad companions for alfalfa - each species negatively affecting the other[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Other Uses

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the juice of most species in this genus (especially those with a strong onion or garlic smell) can be used as a moth repellent[].
The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles[].

Propagation

Plants do not need any encouragement, they are more than capable of propagating themselves. Bulbils are produced in abundance in the summer and are the main means by which the plant spreads.