Garlic Mustard: The Super-Nutritious Edible ‘Weed’ You Probably Mow Over

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Garlic Mustard: The Super-Nutritious Edible ‘Weed’ You Probably Mow Over

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a member of the mustard family and has a noticeable garlic aroma — hence its name. In Europe, this plant is loved and used by many rural people, but in North America it is often referred to as a noxious weed.

In fact, if you do a search on the Internet you will find a noxious weed alert for almost every state and province.

Those that know the weed well will tell you that the only reason this plant is deemed intolerable is because we are overrun with it from not using it. If only we ate more of it, we likely would feel differently.

How it spreads
Garlic mustard, like other weeds, spreads by seeds that fall just a few feet from each plant. With the help of animals and humans, it gets transported. The first year the plant is small with inconspicuous leaves that blend well with other native plants.

They look like violet leaves or wild ginger leaves.

In the second year, a flower stalk shoots up and thousands of seeds are scattered. This aggressive plant soon takes over as its roots exude chemicals that keep other nearby native plants from germinating.

This is a problem for areas that contain native plants, as the mustard will soon take over and will eventually ruin the natural diversity of an area. This is why natural foraging is so important, because it helps control the spread.

Beneficial properties
Garlic mustard is good for you, hands down. It is one of the most nutritious leafy greens. There are few other greens that are higher in fiber, beta-carotene, vitamin C, zinc and vitamin E. In addition, garlic mustard beats spinach, collards, turnips, kale, broccoli and domesticated mustard for all nutrients and is high in omega-3 fatty acids, manganese and iron.

Identification
One of the best ways to identify garlic mustard is by its unique underground stem that curves twice as it leads to the root. The first curve is just below the leaves, bending the stem almost on a right angle. The second curve is less acute and further down where it looks like the true root begins.

Young leaves can be difficult to spot because they can be rounded, kidney-shaped or even arrow-shaped, depending on the age of the plant. Because of this, foraging novices may be best to look for the unique stem and pungent garlic aroma (crush the leaves and smell)…..More Here

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Garlic Mustard: The Super-Nutritious Edible ‘Weed’ You Probably Mow Over