Nothoscordum bivalve (L.) Britton

Yellow False Garlic, Crowpoison

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

False Garlic is a native perennial bulb in the Onion family (Alliaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. False Garlic grows on rock outcrops, on floodplains of creeks and rivers, on roadsides, in pastures, and in lawns. It is a perennial from a globose white bulb with a papery brown or tan outer coat. The leaves emerge in late autumn and remain green until late spring. The leaves are linear, glabrous, and have entire margins. The leaves are bright green in color and present at flowering time. Flowers are produced in 3-10 flowered umbles on a leafless stalk. Two papery bracts subtend the flowers and encloses the developing buds. The flowers are not fragrant. Each flower has 6 white or cream colored tepals. The outer tepals have a reddish or purplish midvein on the outer side. The fruit is an ovoid capsule with flat papery seed. False Garlic has been placed in the genus Allium (the Onions and Garlic) in the past, but differs in lacking an onion scent and in the number of seed in each section of the ovary. An alternate common name for this plant is Crowpoison. Conflicting information exists on the toxicity of this plant, and it should not be consumed.--A. Diamond

**

Native FAC (NWPL)

**