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