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What is the name of this flower that I saw last week at Claridon Woodlands?
What is the name of this flower that I saw last week at Claridon Woodlands?
This is the flower of the ramp, also know as the wild leek. It is a member of the onion family (making them quite stinky). They grow in moist woodlands, and in the early spring they send up broad green leaves which die back as the leaves come out on the trees and there is less light reaching the forest floor. Then, in mid- summer, they form these globe-shaped flower heads.
When harvested from private property (not Geauga Park District), ramps are also quite delicious, hence the various ramp festivals dedicated to this plant. Nice sighting!
-Naturalist Denise Wolfe
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