allium ursinum

The Latin specific name ursinum translates to 'bear' and refers to the supposed fondness of the brown bear for the bulbs; folk tales describe the bears consuming them after awakening from hibernation.{{Cite journal|last1=Sobolewska|first1=Danuta|last2=Podolak|first2=Irma|last3=Makowska-Wąs|first3=Justyna|date=2015|title=Allium ursinum: botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological overview|journal=Phytochemistry Reviews|volume=14|issue=1|pages=81–97|doi=10.1007/s11101-013-9334-0|issn=1568-7767|pmc=4352197|pmid=25774103|bibcode=2015PChRv..14...81S }} Another theory is that the "ursinum" may refer to Ursa Major, as A. ursinum was perhaps one of the most northerly distributed Allium species known to the ancient Greeks, though this hypothesis is disputed.{{Cite journal|last1=Kolosova|first1=Valeria|last2=Svanberg|first2=Ingvar|last3=Kalle|first3=Raivo|last4=Strecker|first4=Lisa|last5=Özkan|first5=Ayşe Mine Gençler|last6=Pieroni|first6=Andrea|last7=Cianfaglione|first7=Kevin|last8=Molnár|first8=Zsolt|last9=Papp|first9=Nora|last10=Łuczaj|first10=Łukasz|last11=Dimitrova|first11=Dessislava|date=2017-02-21|title=The bear in Eurasian plant names: motivations and models|url= |journal=Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine|volume=13|issue=1|pages=14|doi=10.1186/s13002-016-0132-9|issn=1746-4269|pmc=5320662|pmid=28222790 |doi-access=free }} Common names for the plant in many languages also make reference to bears.{{Cite web|title=Ramsons names - Encyclopedia of Life|url=https://eol.org/pages/1085089/names|access-date=2021-02-17|website=eol.org}}

Cows love to eat them, hence the modern vernacular name of cows's leek.{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.foragerscalendar.net/ |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=Forager's Calendar |language=en}} In Devon, dairy farmers have occasionally had the milk of their herds rejected because of the garlic flavour imparted to it by the cows having grazed upon the plant.

Ramsons is from the Old English word hramsa, meaning "garlic". There is evidence it has been used in British cuisine since the Celtic Britons over 1,500 years ago.{{Cite web |last=|first= |date=2022-03-28 |title=Foraging focus: wild garlic |url=https://www.foragingcoursecompany.co.uk/post/articles-foraging-focus-wild-garlic |access-date=2022-07-28 |website=www.foragingcoursecompany.co.uk |language=en}}

Early healers among the Celts, Gaels, and Teutonic tribes and ancient Romans were familiar with the wild herb who called it herba salutaris, meaning 'healing herb'.

File:Illustration Allium ursinum1.jpg]]

Allium ursinum is a bulbous, perennial herbaceous monocot, that reproduces primarily by seed. The narrow bulbs are formed from a single leaf base and produce bright green entire, elliptical leaves up to {{cvt|25|cm|in|frac=2}} long by {{cvt|7|cm|in|frac=2}} wide with a petiole up to {{cvt|20|cm|in|frac=2}} long. The inflorescence is an umbel of six to 20 white flowers, lacking the bulbils produced by some other Allium species such as Allium vineale (crow garlic) and Allium oleraceum (field garlic).{{cite book |year=1981 |title=Reader's Digest Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain |page=383 |publisher=Reader's Digest |isbn=978-0-276-00217-5}}{{cite book |last=Stace |first=C. A. |author-link=Stace, C. A. |title=New Flora of the British Isles |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-521-70772-5 |edition=Third |location=Cambridge, U.K. |pages=902}} The flowers are star-like with six white tepals, about {{cvt|16–20|mm|in|frac=16}} in diameter, with stamens shorter than the perianth.

It flowers in the British Isles from April to June,{{cite book |last1=Clapham |first1=A.R. |title=Excursion Flora of the British Isles |last2=Tutin |first2=T.G. |last3=Warburg |first3=E.F. |date=1981 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0-521-23290-2 |edition=Third |pages=394}} starting before deciduous trees leaf in the spring. The flower stem is triangular in cross-section and the leaves are broadly lanceolate, similar to those of the toxic lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis).

File:Allium ursinum, Arum maculatum.jpg (right) growing side by side in a woodland]]

Plants that may be mistaken for A. ursinum include lily of the valley, Colchicum autumnale, Arum maculatum, and Veratrum viride or Veratrum album,{{cite journal |last1=Gilotta |first1=Irene |last2=Brvar |first2=Miran |year=2010 |title=Accidental poisoning with Veratrum album mistaken for wild garlic (Allium ursinum) |journal=Clinical Toxicology |volume=48 |issue=9 |pages=949–952 |doi=10.3109/15563650.2010.533675 |issn=1556-3650 |pmid=21171854 |s2cid=207657813}} all of which are poisonous. In Europe, where ramsons are popularly harvested from the wild, people are regularly poisoned after mistakenly picking lily of the valley or Colchicum autumnale.[http://www.bfr.bund.de/en/press_information/2005/10/risk_of_mix_up_with_bears_garlic-6228.html Risk of mix-up with bear's garlic - BfR warns pickers about fatal consequences of mistaking free-growing poisonous plants for bear's garlic, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment; 2005]

Grinding the leaves between the fingers and checking for a garlic-like smell can be helpful, but if the smell remains on the hands, one can mistake a subsequent poisonous plant for a safe one. When the leaves of A. ursinum and Arum maculatum first sprout, they look similar, but unfolded Arum maculatum leaves have irregular edges and many deep veins, while ramsons leaves are convex with a single main vein. The leaves of lily of the valley are in pairs, dull green, and come from a single reddish-purple stem, while the leaves of A. ursinum each have their own stem, are shiny when new, and are bright green.{{cite book |last1=Blamey |first1=M. |title=Wild flowers of Britain and Ireland: The Complete Guide to the British and Irish Flora. |last2=Fitter |first2=R. |last3=Fitter |first3=A |publisher=A & C Black |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-4081-7950-5 |location=London |pages=320}}

It is native to Europe and Asia, where it grows in moist woodland. It can be found in temperate Europe from Ireland east to the Caucasus.{{citation needed|reason=Den Virtuella Floran has closed permanently due to copyright issues|date=February 2023}} It is common in much of the lowlands of the British Isles with the exception of the far north of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland.{{cite web |url=http://bsbi.org/maps/?taxonid=2cd4p9h.8a0#style=N4IgLgpgtgDgNgQ0gOQK5QEYQE4gFwgCMIAvkA |title=BSBI map Allium ursinum |publisher=Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland }} The ursinum subspecies is found in western and central Europe, while the ucrainicum subspecies is found in the east and southeast.File:Riis Skov (maj) 05.JPG, Denmark)]]

It grows in deciduous woodlands with moist soils, preferring slightly acidic conditions. In the British Isles, colonies are frequently associated with bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), especially in ancient woodland. It is considered to be an ancient woodland indicator species.[http://www.britishwildlife.com/classic_articles/BW%2010-241-251%20Indicators%20of%20ancient%20woodland.pdf British Wildlife - April 1999 - Francis Rose, Indicators of ancient woodland: The use of vascular plants in evaluating ancient woods for nature conservation, p. 246] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005051421/http://www.britishwildlife.com/classic_articles/BW%2010-241-251%20Indicators%20of%20ancient%20woodland.pdf |date=2011-10-05 }}

As its name suggests, A. ursinum is an important food for brown bears.{{Cite journal |last1=Kusak |first1=Josip |last2=Huber |first2=Djuro |date=1998 |title=Brown Bear Habitat Quality in Gorski Kotar, Croatia |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3873137 |journal=Ursus |volume=10 |pages=281–291 |issn=1537-6176 |jstor=3873137}} The plant is also a favourite of wild boar.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}

A. ursinum is the primary larval host plant for a specialised hoverfly, Portevinia maculata (ramsons hoverfly).[https://www.naturespot.org.uk/node/132924 Nature Spot - Portevinia maculata]

The flowers are pollinated by bees.[https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants-and-fungi/woodland-wildflowers/ramsons/ Woodland Trust - Ramsons]

All parts of A. ursinum are edible. The leaves can be used as salad, herb,{{cite book |author=Johannes Seidemann |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fhN0VK2608QC&pg=PA27 |title=World spice plants |publisher=Springer |year=2005 |isbn=978-3-540-22279-8 |pages=27 |access-date=13 April 2011}} boiled as a vegetable,{{cite book |author=Institut Fur Pflanzengenetik Und Kulturpflanzenforschung Gatersleben (COR) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=10IMFSavIMsC&pg=PA2251 |title=Mansfeld's Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: (Except Ornamentals) |date=11 May 2001 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-540-41017-1 |pages=2251– |access-date=13 April 2011}} in soup, or as an ingredient for a sauce that may be a substitute for pesto in lieu of basil. Leaves are also often used to make garlic butter.{{Cite web |title=Wild Garlic – What You Need to Know – Obey Your Hunger |url=https://obeyyourhunger.com/how-to-cook-wild-garlic/}} In Russia the stems are preserved by salting and eaten as a salad. A variety of Cornish Yarg cheese has a rind coated in wild garlic leaves.{{Cite web |title=British Cheese Board - Lynher Farms & Dairies: Cornish Yarg |url=http://www.britishcheese.com/members/lynher_farms_and_dairies-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422140639/http://www.britishcheese.com/members/lynher_farms_and_dairies-20 |archive-date=2019-04-22 |access-date=2013-05-06}} The leaves can be pickled in the same way as Allium ochotense known as mountain garlic in Korea.{{Cite web |last1=Koch |first1=Matthias |last2=Hosono |first2=Ryusei |title=Pickled Mountain Garlic Korean Vegetarian Sidedish Recipe ✪ Japanese & Korean Recipes |url=https://ryukoch.com/recipe/pickled-mountain-garlic/ |access-date=2020-12-29 |website=Asiatischer Foodblog RyuKoch.com |language=en}} The bulbs can be used similarly to garlic cloves, and the flowers are also edible. Parts of the plant can be used for preparing Van herbed cheese, a speciality of the Van province in Turkey.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

Popular dishes using the plant include pesto, soups, pasta, cheese, scones and Devonnaise.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

The leaves are also used as fodder. Cows that have fed on ramsons give milk that tastes slightly of garlic, and butter made from this milk used to be very popular in 19th-century Switzerland.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}}

The first evidence of the human use of A. ursinum comes from the Mesolithic settlement of Barkær (Denmark), where an impression of a leaf has been found. In the Swiss Neolithic settlement of Thayngen-Weier (Cortaillod culture), a high concentration of pollen from A. ursinum was found in the settlement layer, interpreted by some as evidence for use of the plant as fodder.{{Cite journal|last1=Kühn|first1=Marlu|last2=Maier|first2=Ursula|last3=Herbig|first3=Christoph|last4=Ismail-Meyer|first4=Kristin|last5=Bailly|first5=Matthieu Le|last6=Wick|first6=Lucia|date=2013-02-01|title=Methods for the examination of cattle, sheep and goat dung in prehistoric wetland settlements with examples of the sites Alleshausen-Täschenwiesen and Alleshausen-Grundwiesen (around cal 2900 BC) at Lake Federsee, south-west Germany|url=https://doi.org/10.1179/1461410313Z.00000000017|journal=Environmental Archaeology|volume=18|issue=1|pages=43–57|doi=10.1179/1461410313Z.00000000017|bibcode=2013EnvAr..18...43K |s2cid=140699993|issn=1461-4103|url-access=subscription}}

Allium ursinum has been credited with many medicinal qualities and is a popular homeopathic ingredient. It is often used for treating cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive problems, as well as for the sterilisation of wounds.{{cite journal |last1=Sobolewska |first1=Danuta |last2=Podolak |first2=Irma |last3=Makowska-Wąs |first3=Justyna |date=December 25, 2013 |title=Allium ursinum: botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological overview |journal=Phytochemistry Reviews |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=81–97 |bibcode=2015PChRv..14...81S |doi=10.1007/s11101-013-9334-0 |pmc=4352197 |pmid=25774103}}

Various minerals are found in much higher amounts in Allium ursinum than in clove garlic. It is sometimes called the "magnesium king" of plants because of the high levels of this mineral found in the leaves.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

File:Daslook (Allium ursinum) d.j.b 07.jpg|Flower bud

File:Daslook (Allium ursinum) d.j.b 02.jpg|Young flowers

File:Daslook (Allium ursinum) d.j.b 05.jpg|

File:Allium ursinum (Bärlauch) - Blüte.jpg|

File:Allium ursinum2.jpg|

File:Allium ursinum sl1.jpg|Fruit with seeds

File:AlliumUrsinumAspekt.jpg|Ramsons in a forest

• Allioideae
• Allium tricoccum - North American wild leek (or "ramps", a cognate of "ramsons")
• Allium ampeloprasum - Eurasian broadleaf wild leek
• Allium ochotense
• Allium victorialis
• List of Allium species

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2256973 Tutin, T.G. 1957. Biological flora of the British Isles: Allium ursinum. Journal of Ecology 45(3) pp.1003-1010.]
• Ramsons at Gernot Katzer's [http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com/engl/Alli_urs.html Spice Pages]
• {{Wikispecies-inline|Allium ursinum|Allium ursinum}}
• {{PFAF|Allium ursinum}}

{{Allium}}

{{Non-timber forest products}}

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ursinum

Category:Garlic

Category:Flora of Europe

Category:Herbs

Category:Medicinal plants of Asia

Category:Medicinal plants of Europe

Category:Plants described in 1753

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus