Allium triquetrum


Allium triquetrum is a bulbous flowering plant in the genus Allium native to the Mediterranean basin. It is known in English as three-cornered leek, and in Australia and New Zealand as onion weed. Both the English name and the specific epithet triquetrum refer to the three-cornered shape of the flower stalks.

Distribution

Allium triquetrum is native to south-western Europe, north-western Africa, Madeira and the Canary Islands, where it grows in meadows, woodland clearings, on river banks and roadside verges from sea level to an elevation of. It has also been introduced to the British Isles, New Zealand, Turkey, Australia, California, Oregon, and South America, and is a declared noxious weed in some of those places.

Description

Allium triquetrum produces stems tall, which are concavely triangular in cross-section. Each stem produces an umbel inflorescence of 4–19 flowers in January–May in the species' native environment. The tepals are long and white, but with a "strong green line". Each plant has two or three narrow, linear leaves, each up to long. The leaves have a distinct onion smell when crushed.

Culinary uses

All parts of the plant, from the bulb to the flowers, are edible fresh or cooked, with "a subtle flavour like leek or spring onion".