Allen Acres
Bed and Breakfast

Nothoscordum bivalve

Falsegarlic or crowpoioson (Nothoscordum bivalve known for years as Allium bivalve) is a native bulbous herbaceous perennial species in the Liliaceae.  The species is very similar to onions but lack the onion odor and was once included in the genus Allium.  The plants are scapose.  The leaves are simple, flat and have parallel veins.  The inflorescences are umbels on the tips of the scapes and are subtended by a spathe.  The white flowers are perfect and regular, with three sepals, three petals, and six stamens.  The three sepals and three petals are very similar and are often called tepals.  The ovary is superior, and the fruit is a capsule. It appears in almost all open grassy areas throughout the state and has a bimodal flower mode, flowering in the late winter and early spring (February to April) and then again in the fall.  Edible but no onion flavor but some sources say poisonous and should not be eaten.  The name crow poison may be traced to its resemblance to fly poison (Amianthium muscaetoxicum).