Every year from March to May, numerous people collect wild garlic in the German forests. To avoid confusion and poisoning, you must be able to distinguish between wild garlic and autumn crocus.

In a nutshell

  • Wild garlic and autumn crocus are very similar
  • each form oval, long leaves
  • Wild garlic leaves smell like garlic
  • Autumn crocuses form shiny leaves on both sides
  • Autumn crocus poisoning can be deadly

recognize wild garlic

In order to be able to distinguish between wild garlic and autumn crocus, you must above all know the properties of the respective plant. Both plants are most commonly confused in spring due to their leaves, which are very similar due to their oval shape, width and rich green hue. Nevertheless, there are some vegetative characteristics that you should pay attention to when harvesting in order to distinguish between wild garlic and autumn crocus. The leaves in particular will help if you take a closer look:

  • one leaf per stem
  • Stem grows straight out of the ground
  • triangular, hollow stems are formed
  • Leaves are close together
  • parallel veins
  • glossy leaf surface
  • matt underside of the leaf
  • soft
  • Sometimes the tips curl up

The most important distinguishing feature of wild garlic (Allium ursinum) is the aroma of the leaves. If you gently rub a leaf between your fingers, a strong smell of garlic will fill your nostrils. The leaves of the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), on the other hand, have no noteworthy aroma. The smell makes it much easier to avoid confusion. Make sure that the aroma lingers on your fingers over time and it may no longer be possible to identify it precisely. In this case, you should always check the vegetative characteristics as a precaution.

Notice: If you want to collect wild garlic, you cannot use the flower as a guide, as the leaves become fibrous, bitter and inedible during the flowering period. The autumn crocus does not flower until autumn, which makes it so important to distinguish it by the leaves.

Recognizing autumn crocuses

To avoid poisoning by the autumn crocus when collecting wild garlic, you must be able to distinguish the plant from the leaves. Unfortunately it is not possible to compare the roots with each other as both plants grow from bulbs. Fortunately, the autumn crocus is easy to identify by the leaves if you carefully examine the plants for the following characteristics:

  • several leaves grow from a rosette
  • no visible stem
  • lighter shade of green
  • fleshy and firm
  • stand upright

To be on the safe side, you should look at the underside of the leaves. Autumn crocuses are shiny on both sides, while the underside of wild garlic is matt. This makes identification much easier and protects against confusion.

location differences

Another way to distinguish wild garlic and autumn crocus is the location. The preferred areas of the plants overlap, but are not exactly the same. Both species prefer soil that is moist, humus and rich in nutrients. The biggest difference is in the light requirement:

  • Location of wild garlic: shady
  • Location of the autumn crocus: sunny to semi-shady

For this reason, wild garlic prefers dense forests where it is protected from the sun. Autumn crocus, on the other hand, can often be found in meadows and clearings that have a minimum of sunshine.

Autumn crocus: Symptoms of poisoning

If you accidentally collect and eat autumn crocus leaves instead of wild garlic, the colchicine it contains can lead to severe symptoms of poisoning. It is a cytotoxin that can severely damage cells within a few hours until they die. Even small amounts of the leaves are sufficient for poisoning, which can be recognized by the following symptoms:

  • first symptoms after about 2 to 6 hours
  • nausea and drowsiness
  • less often bluish colored lips
  • vomiting and upset stomach
  • Diarrhea, often bloody
  • intense urge to urinate
  • profuse sweating
  • Paralysis and convulsions can follow
  • can lead to shock
  • Death from cardiovascular failure or respiratory paralysis possible
Source: Image of Autumn Crocus (right) Cheva, Vrbenské rybníky, Colchicum autumnale (01), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

As soon as you notice these symptoms after eating the supposed "wild garlic leaves", you should immediately call an ambulance or go to a hospital. Take parts of the leaves with you so doctors can identify the plant right away. Furthermore, the following first aid measures are recommended:

  • Spit out plant parts
  • Drink hot tea or coffee
  • Administer sodium sulfate or activated charcoal
  • Perform shock positioning

Notice: Respond as soon as possible if autumn crocus poisoning is likely, as the lethal dose is as little as 0.8 milligrams of plant parts per kilogram of body weight. The mortality rate of autumn crocuses is about 90 percent.

frequently asked Questions

Are there other methods to prevent confusion?

In addition to comparing the vegetative characteristics, it may be worth booking a guided herb hike in your area. During a herb hike, a professional will show you what to look out for when collecting wild herbs. You can also use apps with images to identify herbs.

Which plant can wild garlic be confused with?

In addition to the autumn crocus, wild garlic is often confused with lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). Compared to wild garlic, the undersides of the leaves of the lily of the valley are shiny and the stalk is surrounded by a maximum of two leaves. In addition, Convallaria majalis does not appear until mid-April, i.e. significantly later than wild garlic. The leaves of the lily of the valley have a barely perceptible odor.

What should be considered when harvesting wild garlic?

If you want to collect wild wild garlic, you should not harvest too many leaves from the plant so that it can recover. A maximum of one leaf should be harvested per plant. If you find specimens that have already been harvested, you should move to the next plant. Use a sharp knife or scissors that have been disinfected beforehand for harvesting.

Category:

Vegetable garden