How big does Allium vineale get?

treecreeper · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 08:14 PM

I found this on the Pembrokeshire coast last week. It was like Allium vineale in every respect (e.g. having one bract not two) but it was much stouter than the plants I see on Wirral. The heads of bulbils were about 2 inches across and the stems were 4-5mm thick. That's twice the size of the Wirral plants. Is this a normal size for crow garlic in southern UK?

Tiggrx · #2 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 08:28 PM

I have seen them that big - though usually rather smaller

treecreeper · #3 (**permalink**) 03-08-2009, 08:32 PM

I've just looked up Francis Rose. He gives stem width as 2mm. Shows you have to make allowances when consulting books.

nakedgardener · #4 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009, 05:15 AM

Plants can grow to different sizes depending onthe local environment they are in.

The same species growing on an infertile, exposed cliff top will be shorter and chunkier than one growing in a fertile, sheltered position.

Tiggrx · #5 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treecreeper

I've just looked up Francis Rose. He gives stem width as 2mm.

I would have thought it was usually wider than that

treecreeper · #6 (**permalink**) 06-08-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I would have thought it was usually wider than that

I've just been out to measure the crow garlics of Meols. Might have looked eccentric but we must endure reproach in the cause of science. Most of them had stem diameter well under 2mm, typically around 1.1mm. A good number were approx 1.8mm. I found one at 2.4mm and one at 3mm but these were quite a bit stouter than the others.