Wild leek

The bulbs of this plant are eaten for their mild, garlic-like flavour. It is thought that harvesting more than 5 to 7% of the plants in a colony jeopardizes its survival and that a population of fewer than 1,000 plants is endangered. Large colonies of wild leek have practically disappeared because of over-harvesting. It takes 7 to 10 years for a bulb to reach sufficient size to reproduce. That is why it is suggested to eat a few leaves instead of bulbs if we want to let this plant survive in the wild. On March 16, 1995, wild leek was designated a vulnerable species and commercial sales were prohibited. Small amounts (200 g or a maximum of 50 bulbs or plants) may still be picked for personal use. It must be remembered, however, that it could be disastrous if a number of people pick the maximum number of plants from the same colony.