What structural signature identifies Allium triquetrum as distinct from Allium vineale?
Answer
Its leaves and flower stems visibly possess three distinct faces or corners in cross-section.
The plant known as three-cornered leek, scientifically designated as *Allium triquetrum*, possesses a clear and literal identifying marker related to its structure. When observing a cross-section of its leaves or the flower stems, one can clearly observe that these parts exhibit three distinct faces or corners, giving the plant its common name. This characteristic is a key differentiator used by foragers to positively identify it, contrasting it with other wild alliums like *Allium vineale*, which typically has round, hollow shoots rather than three-sided ones.
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Edible Onion Grass / Crow Garlic / Field Garlic (Allium vineale)
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