Wild Leek, Allium tricoccum, Native Minnesota plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Wild Leek	Allium tricoccum Sol.	Lily	Woodland	Early Summer
Other names and notes	(Ramp). One of several wild leeks, this perennial first raises a cluster of basal leaves, lance-like, in early spring. They are from 1 to 2 inches wide and disappear when the plant is in flower. Flowers form in an umbel (a rounded cluster) on an 4 to 12" erect stem. Each flower is white, 6-part and only 1/4" wide. The umbel is about 1 1/4" wide. The flowers mature to capsules with black seeds. The species name tricoccum means "3 seeded" which would be the typical seed count in a capsule.


Above: The umbel of small 6-part flowers.	Above: The basal leaves which disappear at flowering time.
Below: In Autumn, look for the seed head on the stem, bare of leaves, upright or laying on the ground.	Below: The glossy black seeds emerging from the capsules in September.

Notes: Wild Leek was not included on Eloise Butler's list of indigenous plants of the Garden area. It is listed in Martha Crone's 1951 Garden census, but not on the 1986 census. It is present once again in the Woodland Garden. The plant is native to the state and most of the eastern United States. In Minnesota it is found in most counties except some in far NW and far SW corner. It was listed on Martha Crone's 1951 Garden Census.

Lore: Densmore reports in her study of plants used by the Chippewa the Wild Leek was taken as an emetic (to cause vomiting). One dose made as a decoction from the root was said to have a quick effect.

Return to -- Site Plan/Archive --or-- List of Common Plant Names -- or -- List of Scientific Names -- or --Home Page

References: Plant characteristics are generally from sources 15, 16, 30, 31, 33, W2 & W3. Distribution principally from W2 and also 31, 34 and W1. Planting history generally from 1, 4 & 4a. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details.

110111