Mixing up the leaves of poisonous autumn crocus and wild garlic is one of the most common causes of poisoning. Read here which characteristics you use to distinguish the two plants from each other.
Unfortunately, wild garlic (pictured here) looks confusingly similar to the leaves of the highly poisonous autumn crocus
Distinguishing on appearance is not enough - you should pay attention to this
When the autumn crocus drives out its leaves in spring, the flowering period has long since come to an end. You will not differentiate the poisonous plant from wild garlic based on the crocus-like flowers. If you go into the forest to collect the herbal plant, please pay attention to these identifying features:
- Wild garlic forms lance-shaped leaves on individual stalks, with a shiny upper side and a dull underside
- Autumn crocus leaves are long and narrow and thrive in groups on one stem
- Wild garlic leaves are softer than autumn crocus leaves
Since the optical differences can only be unequivocally recognized by an experienced wild garlic collector, an olfactory test should provide final security. If wild garlic leaves are rubbed between your fingers, an intense garlic scent unfolds.
Smell test has its pitfalls
Reducing the difference between autumn crocus and wild garlic solely to the smell harbors a risk. After a few sniff tests, the penetrating garlic scent clings to your hands and fingers, so that you will be misled in further attempts. If you hold an odorless autumn crocus under your nose, you will still perceive a supposed wild garlic aroma - with fatal consequences.
Growing wild garlic is better than collecting it
With a view to the deadly risk of confusion with autumn crocus, we recommend not collecting the herbal plant in the forest. It is better if you grow wild garlic in your own garden and thus avoid all threats.
tips
The leaves of lily of the valley and the sometimes overgrown garden tulip also look confusingly similar to wild garlic. Both plants thrive in similar locations as the tasty herbal plant. Although inadvertently ingesting lily of the valley or tulip leaves is not fatal, severe nausea with vomiting occurs within 15 minutes.