Uses
Edible uses
Notes
Young leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb or as a flavouring in cooked foods[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. A mild garlic and mustard flavour, the leaves are also believed to strengthen the digestive system[8]. They can be finely chopped and added to salads[9][10]. The leaves are available very early in the year and provide a very acceptable flavouring for salads in the winter[K]. Flowers and young seed pods - raw[6]. A mild, garlic-like flavour[K].
Flowers
Leaves
Seed
Medicinal uses(Warning!)
Garlic mustard has been little used in herbal medicine[11]. The leaves and stems are antiasthmatic, antiscorbutic, antiseptic, deobstruent, diaphoretic, vermifuge and vulnerary[2][9]. The leaves have been taken internally to promote sweating and to treat bronchitis, asthma and eczema[2]. Externally, they have been used as an antiseptic poultice on ulcers etc[2], and are effective in relieving the itching caused by bites and stings[8]. The leaves and stems are harvested before the plant comes into flower and they can be dried for later use[12]. The roots are chopped up small and then heated in oil to make an ointment to rub on the chest in order to bring relief from bronchitis[13]. The juice of the plant has an inhibitory effect on Bacillus pyocyaneum and on gram-negative bacteria of the typhoid-paratyphoid-enteritis group[14]. The seeds have been used as a snuff to excite sneezing[2].
Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Nothing listed.
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Seed - sow outdoors in situ either in spring or autumn.
Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Alliaria petiolata. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.
Cultivation
Prefers a damp rich alluvial soil[9][15]. Succeeds in damp shady places where few other herbs will grow[12]. A good woodland edge plant, it also grows well in the bottom of hedgerows[16] and will self-sow freely in suitable conditions[12]. On a calm day the plant emits a strong smell of garlic. This is especially pronounced if the leaves are bruised[13]. This species is an important food source for the orange-tip butterfly[12].
Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Alliaria petiolata. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.
Polycultures & Guilds
There are no polycultures listed which include Alliaria petiolata.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
References
- ? Unknown The Real Transition Handbook:The Wild Food of Kentdale CA (2012/03/01)
- ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.6 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (32202/01/01)
- ? 3.03.1 Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins ISBN 0-00-219060-5 (32202/01/01)
- ? 4.04.1 Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn ISBN 0-600-37216-2 (32202/01/01)
- ? 5.05.1 Loewenfeld. C. and Back. P. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles ISBN 0-7153-7971-2 ()
- ? 6.06.16.2 Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold ISBN 0442222009 (32202/01/01)
- ? 7.07.1 Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. ()
- ? 8.08.18.28.38.4 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (32202/01/01)
- ? 9.09.19.29.39.49.59.6 Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (32202/01/01)
- ? 10.010.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
-
? Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; no text was provided for refs namedPFAFimport-268
- ? 12.012.112.212.312.4 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (32202/01/01)
- ? 13.013.113.2 Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (32202/01/01)
- ? 14.014.1 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (32202/01/01)
- ? De. Bray. L. The Wild Garden. ()
- ? Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. ()
- ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (32202/01/01)
Cite error: <ref>
tag with name "PFAFimport-13" defined in <references>
is not used in prior text.
"image:Alliaria petiolata2.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.