Species of the Week: Garlic Mustard

This week's Species of the Week is garlic mustard, also known as Allaria petiolata. It is a member of the mustard family, but is named garlic mustard due to its garlic-like scent and flavor. Even its genus, Allaria, means "garlic-like". It is a biennial plant, meaning that it grows in 2 year cycles. In its first year, the leaves are rounded and grows no more than a few inches from the ground, remaining through its first winter.

During its second year, it grows much taller, its stalks reaching up to a few feet high. The rounded leaves are replaced by pointed ones, and small four-petaled white flowers are produced.

Although native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of western and central Asia, it is an invasive species that has spread across most of North America. Initially brought by European settlers in the 19th century for medicine and culinary purposes, it quickly spread out of control and dominates the woodland understory. The insects and fungi that kill garlic mustard are not found in North America, and it is inedible or even toxic to many native herbivores.

There is ongoing debate over control of the species by introducing two species of weevil, Ceutorhynchus scrobicollus and Ceutorhynchus contstrictus, in order to control and reduce the spread of garlic mustard across the United States. As spring approaches and the snow begins to melt, look for it around campus. It grows fairly abundantly and can be found in patches.

Posted on March 1, 2019 04:54 AM by ifreedman