Family: Brassicaceae
Author: (M.Bieb.) Cavara & Grande
Bibliography: Bull. Orto Bot. Regia Univ. Napoli 3: 418 (1913)
Year: 1913
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Alliaria
Vegetable: False
Observations: Europe to C. Asia and N. Myanmar, NW. Africa
Description
Garlic mustard, known scientifically as Alliaria petiolata, is a biennial flowering plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family. This plant is native to Europe, Central Asia, and North Myanmar, as well as parts of Northwest Africa. It was officially documented in the Bulletin of the Royal University Botanical Garden of Naples in the year 1913 by botanists Cavara and Grande based on the earlier classification by M. Bieb.
Characterized by its distinctive garlic odor, which is most noticeable when the leaves are crushed, garlic mustard thrives in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, roadside verges, and shaded areas. It can grow up to 1 meter in height and features heart-shaped, serrated leaves and clusters of small, white, four-petaled flowers that bloom from late spring to early summer.
The plant’s life cycle begins with the germination of seeds in the spring, leading to the formation of a rosette of leaves in its first year. In its second year, garlic mustard develops a tall, flowering stalk that produces numerous seeds, ensuring its proliferation.
Garlic mustard is often noted for its ecological impact, particularly in North America where it is considered an invasive species. It tends to outcompete native flora by monopolizing resources such as light, moisture, and nutrients, thus altering the habitats it invades. This competitive nature makes it a subject of interest and concern among conservationists and ecologists.
Despite its invasive tendencies, garlic mustard has been used historically in culinary and medicinal applications. Its young leaves can be consumed raw or cooked, imparting a mild garlic flavor to dishes, while various parts of the plant have been employed in traditional remedies.
Among the myriad of plant species within the Brassicaceae family, garlic mustard stands out not only for its distinctive qualities but also for its dual role in both natural ecosystems and human use.
Common Names
Dan: almindelig løgkarse, løgkarse
Eng: garlic mustard, hedge-garlic, jack-by-the-hedge, hedge garlic
Deu: gewöhnliche knoblauchsrauke, knoblauchsrauke
Fra: alliaire, alliaire officinale
Lav: dziedniecibas kiplocene
Nld: look-zonder-look
Swe: löktrav, vitlöksört
Sme: bađvvotlávki
Cym: arfog arllegog, garlleg ferwr, garlleg ferwy, garlleg y berth, garllegog, pernel, troed yr asen, troed yr asyn
Gla: garbhraitheach, gàirleach-callaid, gàirlich-challaid
En: Garlic mustard, Hedge-garlic, Jack-by-the-hedge, Hedge garlic, Garlic-mustard, Poor man’s Mustard, Sauce alone
Ca: Al·liaria, Allenc
Cs: Česnáček lékařský
Da: Almindelig løgkarse, Løgkarse
Nl: Look-zonder-look
Fr: Alliaire, Alliaire officinale, Alliaire pétiolée, Herbe à l’ail, Herbe aux aulx, Julienne alliaire, Vélar alliaire
De: Gewöhnliche Knoblauchsrauke, Knoblauchsrauke, Knoblauchhederich, Lauchel, Lauchhederich, Lauchkraut
He: אליאריה שומית
It: Alliaria comune
Lv: Dziedniecibas kiplocene
Se: Bađvvotlávki
Gd: Garbhraitheach, Gàirleach-callaid, Gàirlich-challaid
Sk: Cesnačka lekárska
Es: Ajera, Alliaria, Hierba del ajo
Sv: Löktrav, Vitlöksört
Cy: Arfog Arllegog, Garlleg Ferwr, Garlleg Ferwy, Garlleg y Berth, Garllegog, Pernel, Troed yr Asen, Troed yr Asyn
Synonyms
- Alliaria mathioli (Rupr.)
- Arabis alliaria (Bernh.)
- Alliaria fuchsii (Rupr.)
- Alliaria officinalis (M.Bieb.)
- Sisymbrium alliaria ((L.) Scop.)
- Alliaria alliacea ((Salisb.) Britten & Rendle)
- Erysimum alliaceum (Salisb.)
- Sisymbrion alliarium (St.-Lag.)
- Clypeola alliacea (Crantz)
- Alliaria alliaria ((L.) Huth)
- Erysimum cordifolium (Pall.)
- Arabis petiolata (M.Bieb.)
- Alliaria officinalis f. grandifolia (Bolzon)
- Hesperis alliaria ((L.) Lam.)
- Sisymbrium truncatum (Dulac)
- Pallavicinia alliaria ((L.) Cocc.)
- Erysimum alliaria (L.)
- Crucifera alliaria ((L.) E.H.L.Krause)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Albania (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Austria (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- Corse (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- Denmark (native)
- East Aegean Is. (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- Finland (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Iran (native)
- Iraq (native)
- Ireland (native)
- Italy (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Krym (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Nepal (native)
- Netherlands (native)
- North Caucasus (native)
- North European Russi (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Norway (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Palestine (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Tibet (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Xinjiang (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Alabama (introduced)
- Argentina South (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- Colorado (introduced)
- Connecticut (introduced)
- Delaware (introduced)
- District of Columbia (introduced)
- Idaho (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Indiana (introduced)
- Iowa (introduced)
- Kansas (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- Maine (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Michigan (introduced)
- Minnesota (introduced)
- Missouri (introduced)
- Montana (introduced)
- Nebraska (introduced)
- New Hampshire (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- Newfoundland (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Oklahoma (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Rhode I. (introduced)
- South Dakota (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- Utah (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
- Wyoming (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Apr 14, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 27, 2018 by Javier López (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 24, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 24, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 24, 2019 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Apr 10, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 16, 2020 by sjaak blok (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 23, 2020 by Thierry LE COM (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 9, 2018 by Creu Lopez (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 18, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Apr 3, 2018 by 1 (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 2, 2020 by Víctor Gonzalez (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 7, 2022 by NP7 (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 31, 2020 by diahann mcculloch (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 16, 2022 by yvon s (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Apr 4, 2022 by francois tissot (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 11, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 6, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 10, 2019 by Felix (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 19, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Apr 9, 2022 by Mandalorian (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 3, 2022 by Myriam Garcia (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 14, 2020 by Vanessa Prioux (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 4, 2022 by francois tissot (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 23, 2020 by Thierry LE COM (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Apr 11, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 16, 2022 by Roberto Dessì (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 15, 2020 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 18, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 18, 2021 by Christine Bishop (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5376075)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1176324-2)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Alliaria petiolata (M.Bieb.) Cavara & Grande)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 4
Atmospheric humidity: 6
Bloom months: [‘apr’, ‘may’, ‘jun’]
Soil nutriments: 8