United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Agroforestry Center

 

Date of this Version

12-2014

Document Type

Newsletter Issue

Citation

Agroforestry Notes 47, December 2014

United States Department of Agriculture, National Agroforestry Center, Lincoln, Nebraska

Comments

United States government work

Abstract

The spring ephemeral, Allium tricoccum Ait. (called ramps in the south and wild leeks in more northern areas), is native to the forests of eastern North America. Ramps can be found growing in patches in rich, moist, deciduous forests in eastern North America. They begin to emerge when the soil temperatures increase after snow melt, which usually occurs in late March and early April, depending on geographic location. Young plants send up smooth, broad leaves that die back as the shrub and tree canopy closes, reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches the ramps. Patches of ramps often can be located by their distinctive odor, the source of which is chemical constituents similar to garlic (Calvey et al. 1997). Before the plants lose their leaves, people flock to the forests to collect this delicious but smelly spring edible. The bulbs taste spicy and have been compared to a cross between scallions and garlic.

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