Chapters 6.2

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Wild Leeks6.jpeg

Suggested citation for this chapter.

Pietzsch, C. (2022) Greens, Fleshy Stems and Gourds. In The Student Encyclopedia of Canadian Indigenous Foods. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.firstnationsfoods.org/

Background

Allium tricoccum, also known as wild leek or ramps, is a relative of onions and garlic native to the eastern half of North America (Edgar et al., 2020). Wild leeks can be found in forests ranging from southern Canada, including Ontario and Quebec, to the southern Appalachian regions, including Alabama and Georgia (Bernatchez et al., 2013). Wild leeks are among the first plants to sprout in the springtime, where they quickly grow a few leaves in early May, then die back in early June (Vasseur et al., 1990). During this time, the leaves make all of the nutrients that the plant needs to grow the bulb and produce a flower, which blooms in July (Nault & Gagnon, 1993). Wild leeks can be foraged from clusters on the forest floor in the springtime, however harvesting should be done carefully due to concerns about conservation (Edgar et al., 2020).

Figure 1. Distribution map of Allium trioccum. Note, Allium trioccum is confined to the southern areas of Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. (Source: USDA, 2014)

History

Wild leeks are a common foraged plant that was collected by Native American groups for a variety of uses before the arrival of European settlers in North America (Edgar et al., February 2020). Native American groups, including the Cherokee, Iroquois, Menominee, Ojibwa and Potawatomi peoples consumed wild leeks (Moerman, 2010). The Cherokee, Iroquois and Potawatomi consumed wild leeks fresh, boiled or fried (Moerman, 2010). The Menominee and Ojibwa seemed to prefer wild leeks in a dried form (Moerman, 2010). Wild leeks were also eaten by Cree and Anishinaabe groups, where they were cooked in soups, boiled, or eaten raw with meat (Turner & Aderkas, 2012). There are also instances of Native American groups using wild leeks to cure colds, supply vitamin C and brew a restorative post-winter tonic (Edgar et al., 2020).

Wild leeks are also important for various spring rites and relational aspects of Cherokee communities, including sharing with elders (Baumflek & Chamberlain, 2019). Native American groups such as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians also have long-standing harvesting techniques that were developed independently from the techniques of European settlers (Chamberlain et al., 2019). Wild leeks were so important to Native American groups that some areas are named after the abundance of wild leeks, including Chicago and the Winooski River in Vermont (Baumflek & Chamberlain, 2019). Sadly, a severe lack of reporting on Native American group’s involvement, with wild leeks or generally, is present in the current media landscape (Baumflek & Chamberlain, 2019). Largely, Native American culture surrounding wild leeks is ignored in favor of the culture introduced to the Appalachian region by settlers (Baumflek & Chamberlain, 2019).

Foraging

Wild leeks can usually be found growing in clusters from the early to late springtime, and can be easily identified by their strong smell (Edgar et al., February 2020). The entire plant is edible, with many people preferring the bulbs of the plant; however, harvesting too many bulbs can lead to population decline (Chamberlain et al. May 2019). A more sustainable technique for wild leek harvesting, pioneered by Native American groups such as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, involves cutting the plant around the soil level, leaving part of the bulb and the roots intact (Chamberlain et al. May 2019). This technique for wild leek foraging shows little to no damaging effect on ramp populations, but growth of the plant can be reduced depending on how many and when the leaves were harvested (Dion et al. December 2016). An alternative version of this technique sees foragers removing only some of the leaves, as well as harvesting leaves when they begin to die-off so that the plant still receives all of the nutrients it requires to grow before the leaves are removed (Dion et al. December 2016).

Figure 2. Clusters of Allium tricoccum leaves in a forest setting.

Cultivation

Wild leeks can be cultivated through transplanting bulbs or planting seed, with either option posing unique challenges (Edgar et al., February 2020).

Future potential – wild leeks (Allium tricoccum)

Availability of genetic stocks

There is low genetic variability in Allium tricoccum, especially in the northern ranges, likely due to the propagative mechanism of Allium tricoccum(Vasseur et al., 1990). Allium tricoccum can propagate through vegetative growth and sexual reproduction (Vasseur & Gagnon, 1994). Vegetative propagation is the typical way through which Allium tricoccum populations grow (Edgar et al., February 2020). Rhizomes of Allium tricoccum will occasionally divide into two or three genetically-identical ramets once adequate growth has been achieved (Nault & Gagnon, March 1993). Sexual reproduction in Allium tricoccum is typically through autogamy as well, resulting in little genetic variation (Nault & Gagnon, March 1993). Furthermore, Allium tricoccum scapes typically have high mortality rates, resulting in the production of a small number of seeds, which display low rates of emergence and survival due to predation or dormancy factors when grown in their native habitat (Nault & Gagnon, March 1993).

Primary production constraints

Allium tricoccum has a long generation time of 3-5 years from seed germination to reproductive maturity (Edgar et al., February 2020). Vegetative propagation only occurs in larger bulbs, therefore requiring multiple years to produce a clone (Edgar et al., 2020). Allium tricoccum mostly reproduces through vegetative propagation due to the tightly clustered pattern of growth preventing seed germination (Edgar et al., February 2020). Harvesting must also be heavily controlled to avoid population decline due to over-harvesting (Dion et al. December 2016). A five-to-seven-year plot rotation plan is an option for sustainably harvesting Allium tricoccum without inducing a decline in a cultivated population (Edgar et al., February 2020).

Regulatory constraints

Due to Allium tricoccum

population decline from over-harvesting and illegal harvesting, governmental bodies within the range of Allium tricoccum have implemented restrictions or regulations on the harvesting of Allium tricoccum (Edgar et al., February 2020). In Gatineau Park, Quebec, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park are protected by complete bans on the harvesting of Allium tricoccum (Edgar et al., February 2020). Allium tricoccum harvesting is also limited to 200 grams per person in the whole of Quebec, and to 500 pounds per license holder in North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest (Edgar et al., February 2020).

Limitations

Allium tricoccum population decline can be caused by harvesting of 5-15% of large plant clusters (Vasseur & Gagnon, 1994). Allium tricoccum also has a long generation time (Edgar et al., February 2020), which would limit production unless excessive amounts of land were dedicated to cultivation of Allium tricoccum

Opportunities

An avenue for future study could be the development of ideal fertilizer compositions to avoid antagonistic nutritional effects on Allium tricoccum grown in forest systems (Bernatchez et al., April 2013). Opportunities to improve cultivation of Allium tricoccum could include breeding or propagation efforts. The poor seed production and viability of Allium tricoccum in a forest habitat can be circumvented by growing Allium tricoccum in garden plots where nutrient, light and moisture levels are heavily controlled (Vasseur & Gagnon, 1994). Thus, breeding efforts for genetic variability or specific traits in Allium tricoccum would be more efficiently pursued in a heavily controlled garden environment. Furthermore, garden cultivation of Allium tricoccum may also be used to supply programs seeking to reintroduce Allium tricoccum to areas with healthy transplant individuals as well as seedstock. These transplant individuals may also be sold commercially.

References

1. Baumflek, M., Chamberlain, J. L. (2019). Ramps Reporting. What 70 Years of Popular Media Tells Us About A Cultural Keystone Species. Southeastern Geographer, Vol. 59 (Issue. 1), Pages 77-96, doi: 10.1353/sgo.2019.0006

2. Bernatchez, A., Bussiéres, J., Lapointe, L. (April 2013). Testing fertilizer, gypsum, planting season and varieties of wild leek (Allium tricoccum) in forest farming system. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 87 (Issue. 5), Pages 977 – 991, doi:10.1007/s10457-013-9613-1

3. Chamberlain, J., Small, C., Baumflek, M. (May 2019). Sustainable Forest Management for Nontimber Products. Sustainability, Vol. 11 (Issue. 9). doi: 10.3390/su11092670

4. Dion, P. P., Bussières, J., Lapointe, L. (December 2016). Sustainable leaf harvesting and effects of plant density on wild leek cultivation plots and natural stands in Southern Quebec, Canada. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 90 (Issue. 6), Pages 979-995. doi: 10.1007/s10457

5. Edgar, B., Brubaker, H., Tuminelli, K. (February 2020). Plugging the Leak on Wild Leeks: The Threat of Over-harvesting Wild Leek Populations in Northern New York. Unitedplantsavers.org. https://unitedplantsavers.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Plugging-the-Leak-on-Wild-Leeks_Edgar-Brubaker-Tuminelli.pdf

6. Mahr, S. (n/a). [A clump of Allium tricoccum (with bloodroot blooming behind)] [Photograph] University of Wisconsin-Madison. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/ramps-allium-tricoccum/

7. Moerman, D. E. (2010). Native American Food Plants: An Ethnobotanical Dictionary. Timber Press, Inc. https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=iYhjlKR7GZEC&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=allium+tricoccum+ethnobotany&ots=vTvR4TpfuQ&sig=LANXpKVZ33dvvu6IhQQ16voMzno#v=onepage&q&f=false

8. Nault, A., Gagnon, D. (March 1993). Ramet demography of Allium tricoccum, a spring ephemeral, perennial forest herb. Journal of Ecology, Vol. 81 (Issue. 1), Pages 101-119, doi: 10.2307/2261228

9. Petre, A. (June 21, 2019). 10 Health and Nutrition Benefits of Leeks and Wild Ramps. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/leek-benefits

10. Turner, N.J., Aderkas, P.V. (December 2012). Sustained by First Nations: European newcomers’ use of Indigenous plant foods in temperate North America. Acta Soc Bot Pol Vol. 81 (Issue. 4), Pages 295-315, doi: 10.5586/asbp.2012.038

11. USDA. (2014). [USDA interactive distribution map – Allium tricoccum] [Screenshot] United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service. https://plants.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=altr3

12. Vasseur, L., Gagnon, D., Simon, J-P. (1990). Isoenzymatic variability among populations and varieties of wild leek (Allium tricoccum). Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, Vol. 18 (Issue. 5), Pages 321-324. https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(90)90004-Y.