Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

Alliaria: from Allium meaning "onion" or "garlic"

petiolata: stalked

Habitat: FAC, mesic to wet places, prefers sun to partial sun; woods, edge of woods

Status: Introduced; ecologically invasive; shades out native plants

Plant: erect, biennial, 12"-40" tall forb, forming large, dense mats, first year plants are basal rosette

Flower: white, 4-parted, inflorescence a raceme of stalked flowers;

Leaf: alternate, strong garlic smell when crushed; lower kidney shaped, upper triangular

Blooms: April-June

Associates: Agalinis purpurea, Calopogon, tuberosus, Frageria virginiana

C Value: 0

Distinguishing features: leaves produce strong garlic smell when crushed; lower leaves kidney shaped; upper leaves triangular shaped; many upward-pointing seed pods around stem.

Left: Detail of lower, kidney-shaped leaves. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Alliaria_petiolata-Galic.mustard-01.jpg Photo by Gare and KittyBelow: Detail of flower, http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Alliaria_petiolata_-_garlic_mustard_-_desc-flowers_buds_seedpods.jpg