Allium schoenoprasum : Wild Onion, Wild Chive

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Monocoteldonae (one seed-leaf)

Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Genera: Allium (Onion) (classic Latin for garlic)

Species: schoenoprasum (Gk: schoen = sharp + prason = leek)

English Name(s):

Wild Onion, Wild Chive,

First Nation Names:

tl'oo drik

Structure:

• Smells like onions; ovoid bulbs occur in clusters and are covered with a white, papery membrane.
• Stems 15-45cm high.

Leaves:

• Half-round in cross section and hollow near the base.
• Long, thin, tapering, shorter than flower-stalk.

Reproductive Parts:

• Flowers with pink or rose-violet perianth segments with darker viens.
• Numerous flowers are compacted into a dense, nearly spherical umbel.

Seed:

• Fruits small, egg-shaped, 3-lobed capsule containing seeds.
• Seed black with honey-combed surface, 1-2 per cavity.

Not to Be Confused With:

• No close lookalikes in the study area; without flower could possibly be confused with Zygadenus elegans (Death Camas), but can be distinguished by onion-like smell.

Physiology:

• Herbaceous
• Sulfenic acid gives onions their distinctive odour. Cutting or bruising the cells of Allium spp. releases this volatile acid into the air, causing burning of the eyes.

Life Cycle:

• Biennial or short-lived perennial.

Seasonal Cycle:

• Flowers late June to early August, depending on elevation.

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Moist to turfy places along riverbanks and lakeshores.

Modern:

Industrial:

• Flowers and stems dry well, and are used for dried flower arrangements.

Medicinal:

Food:

• Both bulbs and leaves are edible and good substitutes for the garden variety.

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• A smudge of the bulb was used to fumigate the patient.
• Crushed bulbs were used to treat insect bites and stings, hives, burns, scalds, sores, blemishes, and even snake bites.
• Snuff made by grinding the dried bulb was used to clear the sinuses.
• Used to treat coughs and colds when made into a syrup by boiling down or adding sugar.

Food:

• Is the ancestor of the cultivated Chive.