Habitat
Type: open woods, hedge banks, river banks
Distribution: throughout northern hemisphere
Prefers: shade
Other: patch forming

General
Growth type: herb
Cycle: perennial
Height: up to 40 cm
Other: garlic smell

Leaf
Shape: lanceolate
Texture: satin sheen
Arrangement: basal rosette
Edge: smooth

Root
Type: oblong bulb

Flower
Shape: star
Arrangement: round umbel-like cluster on leafless stalk
Colour:

Take extra care with identification. Leaves can be mistaken for the leaves of the very poisonous plant Lily-of-the-Valley Convallaria majalis. May be toxic if consumed in large quantities.

March to June
all year
April to June

Flavour
Rating and Description:
Whole plant: onion/garlic, slightly hot

How to Consume
Whole plant: raw

Used as ...
Whole plant: food

Action:
Whole plant (bulb most active): anthelmintic, anti-asthmatic, anticholesterolemic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, cholagogue, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, hypotensive, rubefacient, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, vasodilator, vermifuge

May treat:
Whole plant: diarrhoea, colic, wind, indigestion, loss of appetite, threadworm (infusion or enema), asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, high blood pressure, cholesterol; external: rheumatic/arthritic joints (stimulation to local circulation)

Whole plant: insect (including moth) and mole repellant, disinfectant

Collection
(bulbs) when dormant

Preserving
dry to store. Leaves will also keep well in water (like cut flowers) for up to two weeks in a cool place. Leave a small amount of stem and stand in shallow water - avoid submerging the leaf.

Note
more active dried; infusion: 25g to 1/2 litre

Plant parts:
leaf
stem or trunk
sap
root, bulb, tuber and other below ground parts
flower
fruit
seed

Use:
culinary use
medicinal use
household use

Other:
caution

General Glossary

• lanceolate: shaped like a lance head; long, tapering to end
• umbel: flower cluster with stalks joined in centre to form flat or curved surface; umbrella-like

Glossary of Medicinal Terms and Nutritive Substances

• anthelmintic: expels parasites from the gut (see also Vermifuge)
• anti-asthmatic: treats asthma
• anticholesterolemic: prevents build up of cholesterol
• antiseptic: prevents putrefaction (applied to wounds)
• antispasmodic: prevents or eases spasms or cramps
• astringent: causes localised contraction of blood vessels and tissue, reducing the flow of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• cholagogue: increases flow of bile
• depurative: eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood
• diaphoretic: promotes perspiration, aids the skin in elimination of toxins
• diuretic: increases secretion and elimination of urine
• expectorant: removes excess amount of mucus from respiratory system (see also decongestant)
• febrifuge: reduces fever; use only for dangerously high temperature; a raised temperature is the body's way of burning up the pathogen
• hypotensive: reduces blood pressure
• rubefacient: applied to the skin to stimulate local irritation and dilate capillaries to increase circulation in the skin and relieve internal pains, e.g. rheumatic joints
• stimulant: enlivens physiological functions of the body, without giving a false sense of well-being
• stomachic: treats stomach disorders
• tonic: improves general health, bringing steady improvement
• vasodilator: widens blood vessels, reducing blood pressure
• vermifuge: expels worms from the body (see also anthelmintic)