3 Cornered Leek
How To ID Me And What I’m Good For?
My ID Features:
Flowers
Unopened flower bud inside its sheath
Leaf & buds
In situ
Leaf
3 ‘corners’
Three Cornered Leek
Latin Name - Allium triquetrum
Common Names - Three Cornered Leek, Onion Weed, Angled Onion, Flowering Onion, Onionweed, Stinking Onion, Three Cornered Garlic.
Family - Amaryllidaceae.
Season - Winter - Spring (Also found in summer in more shaded spots).
Edible Bits - Leaves, roots, flowers & seeds.
Habitat - Woodland, gardens, walkways, bushes, field edges, waste ground.
Possible Confusion - Most likely few-flowered garlic [Allium paradoxum], which is also edible. Though few flowered garlic does not have the same green stripes on the flowers as 3CL. There are lots of other potential toxic lookalikes if you aren’t using your nose. Notably, young daffodils, bluebells or snowdrops. It's incredibly important to use your sense of smell for safe identification.
Usually growing in large numbers it is very important to check through your 3CL once your home to ensure you haven't inadvertently picked any hidden toxic look-alikes. It’s equally important to learn it’s leaf structure, the colour of the leaf, the texture, and other aesthetic and mechanic qualities to pick with confidence. If this is your first time ID'ing 3CL, learn whilst the plant is in flower as the flowers are very distinctive. This will give you an opportunity to observe the leaves of the plant in more detail.
Description - Wild garlic, onion weed, onion garlic, three cornered garlic.. a plant of many common names. Originally brought over from the Mediterranean to the UK in the 18th century from , this plant is considered an invasive species. It is illegal to plant or grow this species in the wild. Alas, lucky for us foragers, it's a great wild edible! With a flavour comparable to a sweet and mild spring onion/chive.
The leaf works particularly well in pesto’s, green sauces, garnishing, soups, practically anywhere you might use a green leaf.
The flowers in bud form, are great to use in lacto-fermentation. Or, once opened, make a wonderful sweet garlicky garnish.
The bulbs are a great replacement for spring onion.
The seeds can be eaten raw, dried or again fermented.
Physical Characteristics - 3CL grows up to 60cm tall. The flowerhead stems when cut in half have a very distinctive triangular shape as does the long and grass like leaf, though more distinctive in the flower stem. Each stem produces anywhere from 4-19 bell-like flowers. Much like white bluebells with their 6 petals. However, the key identifier here.. The 6 petals have a clear and distinctive green line running down them.
Medicinal Qualities - Allium essential oils are well known to be anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and antiseptic, so 3CL will likely be much the same as other members of the family.
Harvesting Sustainability - 3CL forms very dense colonies that can outcompete other spring flowers like native primroses and violets. So the most sustainable thing you could do, is to eat it!
Saftey Note
Be careful to pick away from human or animal contaminants.
Never munch on a hunch! Volf takes no responsibility for anything consumed.
Now For The Tasty Bit!
Here Are More Delicious Recipes…
