Plant id help please.....

[Uncle_Alvah]

In a couple places out in the yard I have some kind of a wild onion or something growing. Maybe it's a "ramp" which I've heard about being in this state(NC) but know nothing about.
They're in little groups of 6-8 or so, 2-3 long green shoots 12" at this point and the "bulb" on the end is about the size of an almond M&M. If you break the shoot or cut the little buld, theres a very subtle onion kinda odor, but it's not strong at all.
Would like to find out what they are, any opinions?
I was thinking of digging them up and transplanting maybe before the yard gets mowed.

[Smoky]

Uncle Alvah, I went to google images and put in <ramps+onion>, there are several pictures there. Does it look like those, or are the green parts more round?

[DM]

It does "sound" like a ramp (or as dad always calls them, "leeks") to me. My woodlot is full of them that i harvest in the spring... It also could be a wild onion of sorts too...

I split the leeds and stuff my ham with them... They sure make the ham taste great! Normally, we use them just like we would garlic.

A pict. would be helpfull...

DM

[bookwormom]

ramps have a leaf similar to lily of the valley. does it look more like chives? your nose is not plugged up, right? I have what my grandmother called goat chives growing here and we eat it. but it is slightly garlicky. Of course I am no expert.

[CarolAnn]

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/carolwyborny/ramp.jpg

Here's ramp, or wild leek. April 29 is the leek festival in Pennsylvania - and I know other states have them too.
http://www.westlineinn.com/wli-events.html
Scroll down for a better pic than the one I found to post.

Yummy!

[Uncle_Alvah]

These are straight, round shoots, no "leaf" per se.
I'm about 95% sure at this point they are just wild onions, I've posted this on a couple forums and that seems to be the hot bet......

[DM]

These are straight, round shoots, no "leaf" per se.

Leeks like to grow in the moist shady area's of a woodlot... Wild onions will grow right out in the sun... I have lots of those too..

DM

[Rick]

Hey Uncle A,

Here in Ga. we have something called Onion Grass. *It is pretty much considered a weed. *As I recollect, the best time to kill it is in the spring.

Here is a link to a picture:

http://www.rootgrafix.com/herbalnexus/p_oniong.htm

edited to add:

I have eaten the little bulbs fried up in a little butter; they tasted OK, a little bitter, but they kinda upset my stomach. *At the time, I thought they were some kind of wild onion.

Most of the patches in my yard are not quite as thick as the picture; more like the 6-8 stalks you describe.

[Al_Coda]

From the Peterson's field guide to edible wild plants, a wild leek or ramp has white flowers and wild onions are pink/red, here's the rest:

Wild Leek or Ramp: 2 or 3 broad, smooth, light green, onion-scented leaves appear in early spring and wither before the solitary flowerstalk with its spokelike cluster of flowers appears. Bulb whitish, strongly onion-scented. Colonial. 6-18 in.

=================
Bought acouple of the Peterson Guides last year, and have been having fun identifying the wild cuisine in my area. Between the "Edible wild plants" and "Medicinal Plants and Herbs" guides, I'd say I can now identify a small plant about 80% of the time. Almost 100% of the time if it's flowering. Great books, very much worth the $ IMO.