For years, I have not passed by an old abandoned home place without looking for plants. In north central Texas, one of the most common is what I have been calling garlic. I am now convinced that it is not garlic, but I have no idea what it is.

I thought it might be elephant garlic. Bought and planted a clove last year (from the food store), but it did not do well, so I can't compare the two.

Here are some traits that I am sure about:
Crushed leaves smell like garlic.
Flowers look much like onion blooms, but make few (if any) seeds.
The leaves are of a greyish-green color.
When dug in the fall, the bulb has about a half dozen 'cloves' around the base.
It must have been very common in the old days, because the only plant found with greater frequency around old homesteads in this area, is the iris germanica.

Is there any way to positively identify this? I don't want to poison myself. If it is edible or useful, I will keep it. If not, I will throw it out.

Please don't suggest I feed some to the dog and see if he lives. I can't force it down him.

I am linking to a PhotoBucket site where there are three pictures of this plant.

Thanks for any help,

John

Keep in mind that until a couple of years ago, I didn't know there were different kinds of garlic. I know that elephant garlic is really a leek, but there are different strains of it as well?

Thanks again,
John

google ramps.

tom

I have heard of ramps, but do not believe that is what my plant is. My 'garlic' forms about a half dozen cloves at the base, and also, I think ramps grows wild. I have never seen this plant except in an area where people live, so I believe people have moved it around.

I carried a plant to my extension agent. He identified it as some kind of leek, but would not say if it was edible or not. Actually, he did not seem too interested.

I have emailed a horticulturist at Texas A&M, but so far, I have heard nothing back.

John

Thank you for the input. If I do not hear back from the horticulturist I emailed, I will post a picture of it's flower when it blooms. I do not remember them being light lavender, but that may be because I did not pay attention.

I admit that I know little about garlic. As I understand it, there are different strains of it. Since it does not make seed, this is hard to understand. Are there different strains of Elephant garlic as well?

Common sense tells me to dig it up and throw it out since I am unsure if it is edible. I have had it for years though, and have kind of gotten interested in finally identifying it.

Thanks again,
John