Ramp (wild leek, spring onion)

Ramp, spring onion, ramson, wild leek, wild garlic  - Allium tricoccum.
Officinal (medicinal) plant, beneficial plant.
Flowering season: Juli-September.
Winter hardiness zones: Z3-Z9.
Height: 30 cm.
Ramp, Wild Leek, Spring Onions, Chicagoua, blue-green broad foliage, flowering white after the foliage has withdrawn, culinary herb.

A wild perennial plant with an onion-garlic aroma, which is used for the same purposes as bear's onion (Allium ursinum).
It is an early spring vegetable crop.
Wide, smooth, light green leaves (often with a dark purple or burgundy tinge on the lower part of the stem). Both the leaves and bulbs are edible and very useful.
This type of onion successfully “moved” from the American state of South Carolina to Canada and became very popular in the rural cuisine of residents of the Canadian province of Quebec. Now it is extremely popular in the most upscale restaurants throughout North America.
Growing thickly near Lake Michigan in Illinois, this wild onion gave its name to the city of Chicago in the 17th century (the plant was called "Chicagou" in the language of local tribes).
In central Appalachia, it was most often eaten with fried potatoes, bacon and eggs, beans and cornbread.
Ramp onions can be pickled and used in soups and other dishes instead of onions and garlic.

Bot. syn.: Allium pictum H.Moldenke, Allium tricoccum Aiton, Ophioscorodon tricoccum (Sol.) Wallr., Validallium tricoccum (Sol.) Small.