Be careful when collecting wild garlic: How to recognize the poison trap!
The article provides information about the wild garlic season, the risk of confusion with the poisonous lily of the valley and gives important distinguishing features. Ideal for hobby gardeners and nature lovers.
Be careful when collecting wild garlic: How to recognize the poison trap!
The wild garlic season begins at the end of March and is a welcome opportunity for nature lovers and gourmets to collect the healthy culinary herb. With its strong, green foliage and characteristic garlic scent, wild garlic (Allium ursinum) has many fans. However, collectors have to be careful because the highly poisonous lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) also blooms during this time, which poses a great risk of confusion. Loud oe24 The distinguishing feature is the smell: While wild garlic smells intensely of garlic, lilies of the valley are odorless.
It is particularly important to distinguish the leaves of wild garlic from those of lily of the valley. Wild garlic has dull, soft leaves with a clear, thin petiole, whereas lily of the valley has firmer, glossy leaves that grow in pairs and are spirally wound. The flowers also differ: wild garlic blooms in ball clusters with star-shaped, white flowers, while lilies of the valley have hanging, bell-shaped flowers. Shape boost highlights that careful differentiation is crucial to avoid poisoning.
Take the risk of poisoning seriously
Lily of the valley is extremely poisonous, and all parts of the plant, including the berries, contain dangerous substances such as convallatoxin and convalloside. Symptoms of poisoning range from nausea and diarrhea to rapid heartbeat and, in the worst case, cardiac arrest. These risks make it essential to only collect plants that have definitive wild garlic characteristics. On 24garden It should be noted that beginner collectors should ideally travel with experienced companions.
If wild garlic is collected before it flowers, it can be used in numerous dishes such as pestos, sauces, butter and curds. It is also recommended to thoroughly wash and sort the collected leaves to remove contaminants and potentially toxic plant residues. This makes cooking with wild garlic a safe and healthy pleasure that brings spring to the table.
For many, harvesting wild garlic is a popular leisure activity. If you would prefer to plant the plant in the garden or on the balcony, you can also find out more about this. Proper care and appropriate location are important to ensure healthy growth. Before collecting or planting, everyone should familiarize themselves with the characteristics of wild garlic in order to minimize the risk of confusion with lily of the valley.