WILD GARLIC, Allium
vineale L. 1, flower cluster; 2, old bulb and bulblets;
3, underground bulblets; 4, entire plant. Perennial,
reproducing from seed, aerial bulblets, and underground bulblets. Stems
1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm) tall, smooth, and waxy. Leaves slender, hollow,
nearly round, attached to lower half of stem. Aerial bulblets
form in a cluster at top of stem, are oval and smooth with shiny covering.
Flowers greenish white, small, on short stems above aerial bulblets.
Seeds black, flat on one side, about 1/8 inch (3 mm) long; formed only
occasionally. Found in grain fields and pastures; serious in the humid
winter wheat area of the region.
WILD ONION, Allium canadense L. 5,
entire plant; 6, flower cluster; 7, old bulb. Similar to
above species but does not produce underground bulblets. Stems 1
to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) tall. Leaves flat, not hollow, arising from
base of plant only. The old bulb coat of wild onion is fibrous-matted while
in wild garlic it is thin and membranous. Found in same places as
above.
