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Wild Leek
Allium tricoccum Ait.
Apocynaceae
Image
Wild leek flowers, Photo credit: Bat Cave Botanicals 2022

Names and Their Meanings

Wild Leeks - Allium tricoccum
Kanienʼkéha
o'nyónkseri
Anishinaabemowin
bgoji-zhi, agaagawinzh (-iig, plural), siga'gawanj, siga'gawanch
French
Ail des bois
Wild leek fruits, Copperkettle, Photo credit: J. Dolan 2022
Wild leek leaves growing in their habitat, Photo credit: Bat Cave Botanicals 2022
Wild leek leaves in Dairy Bush, Photo credit: D. Botcherby 2022
Dr. Dolan’s daughter harvesting a small amount of leek leaves, Ontario, Photo credit: J. Dolan 2020
Wild leek flowers, Photo credit: Bat Cave Botanicals 2022
Wild leek flowers, Photo credit: Bat Cave Botanicals 2022

Wild Leeks

Description

Wild leeks grow in rich, moist deciduous forests. Wild leek’s top three habitats on the Niagara escarpment are deciduous forest, mixed forest, and treed swamp. Although Wild leeks thrive on rocky soils and substrates of dry deciduous forests -- such as those found throughout the Niagara Escarpment – they are threatened and vulnerable in various locations of their habitat, due to over-harvest for commercial-scale sale and consumption. Therefore, we advise against harvesting this plant, and planting it for personal harvest and regeneration. Also note that it is against the law to harvest Wild Leeks in Québec, due to conservation concerns.

Conservation Status

S4 (Apparently Secure) in Ontario, and Québec S3 (Vulnerable)