Allium vineale plant

Family – Liliaceae

Allium vineale bulb

Bulb with papery outer coating.

Allium vineale bulb

Bulb with coating removed. Arrow shows bulblet.

Leaves

Allium vineale sheath

Base of leaf.

Inflorescence

Allium vineale bulblets

Bulblets of inflorescence.

Flowers

Allium vineale flowers

Flowering – May – July.

Habitat – Waste ground, lawns, fields, disturbed sites, thickets, roadsides, railroads.

Origin – Native to Europe.

Other information – This weedy species can be found scattered throughout Alabama and is probably present in nearly every county.

The plant can be identified by the following characteristics:

Tubular leaves which occur along the flowering stem.

Flat sided propogative bulblets arising from the main underground bulb.

Flowers being completely or partially replaced by bulblets.

Lilac, tubular flowers, when present.

Early season plants appear as a mass of bright green tubular leaves.

The plant is edible and has a stronger, more bitter flavor than cultivated Garlic.
Allium is the Latin for “Onion” or “Garlic.”

The species epithet vineale derives from the Latin “vine” meaning “wine.” The name means “of vineyards.”

Resource: Alabama plant resource

Alabama Distribution

Allium vineale map

Photographs taken off Providence Rd., Columbia, MO., 5-29-04.

Ben McInerney
Author: Ben McInerney - Ben is a qualified arborist with 15 plus years of industry experience in Arboriculture. He ran a successful tree service before turning to writing and publishing. Ben is dedicated to providing users with the most accurate up-to-date information on everything trees.