Bear's Garlic

Description:

Large leaved perennial, bearing flowers in umbel of 10 to 20 small, white and star-like shaped, six-petaled flowers. Also known as wild or wood garlic. Garlic scented.

Habitat:

Native to Europe, and common in temperate regions in the continent. It grows deep in shade on forest floor, and often on banks of streams or rivers. Here, observed in a Natural Reserve of Bois du Faisan, on banks of a river in a mainly deciduous-tree forest close to Geneva. The reserve itself is close to France-Switzerland border, in a valley of lake Geneva, just in between Jura and Alps mountains ranges.

Notes:

All parts of this plant are edible: leaves, stems, bulbs and flowers; and there is a wide variety of recipes for all kinds of dishes - salads, sauces, roasts, stews, soups... we often use it instead of pesto with pasta or salads; or instead of fresh basil leaf... Also excellent in melted butter for grilled meat seasoning...