Allium ampeloprasum L. - Wild Leek
Family - Liliaceae
Stems:
Bulb.
Leaf bases and stem.
Leaves:
N/A
Inflorescence:
Bract of inflorescence.
Flowers:
Flower close-up.
Flowering - May - July.
Habitat - Cultivated and escaped to roadsides, sandy fields, waste places.
Origin - Native to Eurasia.
Other information - This species can be found cultivated throughout much of Alabama and is escaped to a number of counties in the state. The plant can be easily identified by its flat leaves and large, globose heads of flowers. The bulb of this species divides into flat-sided segments.
A. ampeloprasum is the parent plant of the cultivated Leek and Elephant Garlic and is edible.
Allium is the Latin for "Onion" or "Garlic."
The species epithet ampeloprasum derives from the Greek "ampel(o)(us)" meaning "a grape vine" and "pras(um)" meaning "a leek." The name means "the leek of the vineyard."
Alabama Distribution:
Photographs taken off Uniroyal Road, Lee County, AL., 5-31-06.