Did you recognize the beautiful blue seeds in last week’s puzzler?
I first noticed these lovely seeds this past fall when I was out for a walk on my wooded property with a friend. There were dozens of these tall stalks, each with these tiny blue seeds on top and the two of us marveled over the beauty of the seeds, as well as how many there were, both wondering what plant they were from. At first I was baffled, but then I thought back to spring, remembering what shows up on this same hillside before any of the leaves are out. To confirm my guess, I smelled the base of the stalk, ending the mystery immediately.
Here’s what this location looks like in spring:
Recognize these leaves?
The leaves look a bit like lily of the valley, but if you are at all confused, just tear the leaf and smell. I bet you have a guess now, right? If you said RAMPS, you are correct! Ramps smell strongly of onions, (since they are in the onion family) and lily of the valley doesn’t.
The seeds then from the puzzler are from ramps!
Where I live in western North Carolina, ramps are up right now. Did you know both the leaves and bulbs of ramps are edible? Have you eaten them? Do you have a favorite recipe?
Did you know that you need a permit to harvest ramps in some locations? Or that they are becoming more rare as more and more people dig them up? Be sure to check first if a permit is needed before harvesting them, (like in some National Forests or National Parks) and if you do pick some to eat, be sure and don’t take them all. The best practice is to only take one of the two leaves from each stalk and if you take the bulb, please leave at least two for every one you harvest. That way there will be ramps next year, and for years to come after that. Leaving one leaf allows the plant enough energy to create seeds in the fall. And please be sure you are positive they are ramps! Some look-alikes, like lily of the valley are poisonous and you do not want to confuse the two.
I’d love to hear from you, so if you want, use the comment box below to get in touch.