AT A GLANCE
Does wild garlic have poisonous doubles?
Those are considered to be toxic doubles lily of the valley as well as the autumn crocus. The leaves of both species look very similar to those of wild garlic, which is why the plants can easily be confused with one another. The autumn crocus is particularly dangerous, especially since this species often nearby growing from wild garlic sites.
How do you distinguish wild garlic from poisonous doubles?
For wild garlic from his toxic doubles to differentiate, you must look at the examine the leaves closely. That's how they have it lily of the valley leaves about many, closely spaced leaf veins, while those of wild garlic are further apart. Also grow at lily of the valley always two leaves from one stalk, with wild garlic it is only one.
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The leaves of autumn crocus grow in a rosette of three to four leaves each and without a stalk directly out of the ground, while each wild garlic leaf has its own stalk. Another distinguishing feature is the
Odor: If you rub wild garlic leaves between your fingers, they smell intensely of garlic. Lily of the valley or autumn crocus leaves, on the other hand, are odorless.Which plants can still be confused with wild garlic?
Also the young leaves of Spotted aroid (Arum maculatum) can easily be confused with wild garlic. Older leaves are arrow shaped and feature dark foliage. The young leaves of arums However, they can be distinguished from those of wild garlic by their irregularly shaped leaf veins: its leaf veins run parallel to one another.
Why can't you orientate yourself by smell?
Of course, the easiest way to tell wild garlic from its poisonous doubles is by smell. If you rub wild garlic leaves between your fingers, they give off a characteristic, strong scent of garlic. The leaves of the poisonous species, on the other hand, are odorless.
Yet you can Smell test only on the first leaf use for species determination: Der The scent of garlic lingers on your fingers, so that you can no longer distinguish the following leaves from their smell. It is therefore important to also use other characteristics for the determination.
Tip
What happens if you eat the wrong wild garlic?
The first symptoms of possible poisoning with wild garlic appear just a few hours after a meal. Typical are: burning in the mouth and difficulty swallowing, diarrhea, vomiting and (bloody) diarrhea. In particular, poisoning with the autumn crocus can be fatal, which is why you should call an ambulance immediately! Drink plenty of still water (no milk!) to dilute the toxins in the body.
