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 Jura mountain range, at 900m approx; in a mixed forest, and on a shoulders of forest road on slopes.

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... I often prepare leaves as pesto, and use it instead pasta or salads; or instead of fresh basil leaf... Also excellent in melted butter for grilled meat seasoning. Flowers are excellent in salads, as tasty decoration.