| Three-cornered leek | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Allioideae |
| Genus: | Allium |
| Subgenus: | A.subg. Amerallium |
| Species: | A. triquetrum |
| Binomial name | |
| Allium triquetrum | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
Allium triquetrum is abulbousflowering plant in the genusAllium native to theMediterranean basin. It is known in English asthree-cornered leek orthree-cornered garlic, in Australia asangled onion,[4] and in New Zealand asonion weed.[5] Both the English name and the specific epithettriquetrum refer to the three-cornered shape of the flower stalks.[6]
Allium triquetrum produces stems that are 17–60 cm (6+3⁄4–23+1⁄2 in) tall and concavely triangular in cross-section. Duringwinter andspring, each stem produces an umbel inflorescence of 4–19 flowers.[7] Thetepals are10–18 mm (13⁄32–23⁄32 in) long and white, but with a "strong green line".[8] Each plant has two or three narrow, linear leaves, each growing up to 15 cm (6 in) long,[7] which have a strong onion smell when crushed.
Allium triquetrum is native to southwestern Europe, northwestern Africa,Madeira, and theCanary Islands, where it grows inmeadows, woodland clearings, onriver banks, and roadside verges fromsea level to an elevation of 850 metres (2,790 ft).[7] It has also beenintroduced toGreat Britain,Ireland,Azores,New Zealand,Turkey,Australia,California,Oregon, andSouth America,[7][9] and is a declarednoxious weed in some of those places.[10] It has been recorded as an alien at a garden waste site onHowth Head, Ireland.[11]
All parts of the plant, from the bulb to the flowers, are edible fresh or cooked.[12] It can be used in dishes similarly tospring onions andwild onions, as it is similar bothmorphologically and in taste.[13]
