The delicious wild garlic and the pretty lily of the valley look very similar, which would only be half as bad if the latter wasn't poisonous. This is also the reason why many people do not dare to pick the edible plant. In principle, it's like with mushrooms and it's better to play it safe and avoid them altogether. However, would you like to know whether it is wild garlic or lily of the valley?
There are a number of differences that can help you identify which of the two plants you are talking about quite quickly and easily. Which are these?
Wild garlic or lily of the valley: what grows there now?
The wild garlic harvest season (Bear garlic) is in spring and more precisely before flowering. The latter are one of the identifying features or differences between the two plants. In addition, the even more poisonous autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnal) at this time also resembles wild garlic due to the lack of flowers.
How the flowers differ
If you have discovered a place with still green plants and are wondering which of the three they actually are, the flowers will not be of much help to you. However, if it is an area that you visit often (park, forest or even your own garden), you can use the flowers to remember at a later date for the future whether it is wild garlic or lily of the valley (Convallaria Majalis) grows.
- The flowers of thelily of the valleyare actually well known and the name already suggests: they resemble tiny bells and are white in color.
- Wild garlic flowersare also white, but they have the shape of stars, which in turn grow on an umbel.
- The flower of theAutumn crocusesis again completely different: it is pink-pink and is strongly reminiscent of crocuses. During the flowering phase in autumn, the green leaves are no longer present.
Wild garlic or lily of the valley: differences in terms of leaves
So, to avoid poisoning during the harvest season, you need to pay attention to the differences in the leaves.
Wild garlic leaves
- Each leaf grows individually from the ground on just one stem.
- The underside of the leaf is matte.
- Hardly any leaf veins can be seen.
- The leaves smell like garlic, especially when you rub them between your fingers.
- Soft and delicate, which is why they are so easy to grind.
Lily of the valley leaves
- There are always two leaves per stem and it is, so to speak, surrounded by them.
- The underside of the leaves is shiny.
- Lily of the valley leaves have many recognizable leaf veins.
- Do lilies of the valley smell like garlic? No, this flower has odorless leaves.
- The leaves have a solid structure
Autumn crocus leaves
- They grow directly from the ground without any stems.
- Shiny on both sides of the leaf.
- Odorless.
- Like lily of the valley leaves, those of the autumn crocus are quite firm.
Important NOTE!If you do the scent test, keep in mind that the garlic scent will continue to cling to your finger. So if you next performed the same test on one of the poisonous plants, it would be misleading and unsafe!
Do autumn crocus, wild garlic and lily of the valley grow next to each other?
No, that is not the case, which is why the location can also be an indication of whether it is actually wild garlic or lily of the valley.
- Wild garlic plants like it shady and usually thrive in forest areas. It doesn't matter whether it is riparian forest, mixed forest or deciduous forest. It is only not found in coniferous forests.
- The poisonous doppelganger also grows in forests, but also in gardens.
- Autumn crocuses are usually found in meadows.
What happens if you mix them up?
How poisonous are lily of the valley and autumn crocus actually and what symptoms occur if they are poisoned?
- The former initially causes a burning sensation in the mouth and throat after about two to six hours. Swallowing is also difficult. Afterwards or at the same time, those affected suffer from abdominal pain and nausea combined with vomiting. Lily of the valley poisoning is also noticeable with a slowed pulse. In this case, an antidote is administered.
- The autumn crocus is even more dangerous because there is no antidote. In addition to nausea and vomiting, there are also stomach cramps, which can lead to bloody stools, accompanied by shortness of breath. All of these symptoms can begin as early as an hour after consumption or after six hours at the latest. It is very important that you alert the emergency doctor, because later on the kidneys and liver are damaged and blood clotting and cardiovascular circulation are disrupted, which in turn can lead to heart failure and death due to organ failure.
Because of these serious consequences, you should never take a risk if you are unsure whether it is actually wild garlic. Instead, you can use commercially available plants.
Also read:Edible ground cover plants: ornamental & useful plants in one
