Allium ursinum
Allium ursinum
Allium ursinum, commonly known as wild garlic, ramsons, bear's garlic, devil's garlic, gypsy's onions, and stinking Jenny, is a bulbous perennial flowering plant in the amaryllis family Amaryllidaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, where it grows in moist woodland environments.
Pronunciation
- UK: /ˈæliəm ɜːrˈsinəm/
- US: /ˈæliəm ɜrˈsinəm/
Etymology
The genus name Allium is the Latin word for garlic, and the species name ursinum refers to bears (ursus in Latin), as bears are known to eat the bulbs of the plant. The common name "ramsons" comes from the Old English hramsan, a plural of hramsa, a word of unknown origin.
Description
Allium ursinum is a bulbous, perennial plant. It grows to heights of 20–50 cm (8–20 in), with elliptic leaves 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long. The flowers are star-like with six white tepals, about 16–20 mm (0.63–0.79 in) in diameter, with stamens shorter than the perianth.
Culinary use
The leaves of Allium ursinum are edible and can be used as salad, herb, boiled as a vegetable, in soup, or as an ingredient for a sauce. The bulbs and flowers are also edible.
Medicinal use
Allium ursinum has been used in traditional medicine for its benefits to the digestive system, and its ability to reduce high blood pressure.
Related terms
- Allium: A genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants that includes hundreds of species, including the cultivated onion, garlic, scallion, shallot, leek, and chives.
- Amaryllidaceae: A family of herbaceous, mainly perennial and bulbous (rarely rhizomatous) flowering plants in the monocot order Asparagales.
- Perennial plant: A plant that lives more than two years.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Allium ursinum
- Wikipedia's article - Allium ursinum
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