Victory onion

⚠️ Toxic look-alike

Never eat this plant unless you are certain it is not its toxic look-alike.

In spring, its young shoots come up among those of white false hellebore, which is deadly, and of autumn crocus; in Japan, foragers die of it almost every year. Victory onion has two or three smooth, broad, elliptical leaves rising from a stem wrapped at the base in a fibrous, net-like sheath, and a very strong garlic smell when crushed. False hellebore leaves are pleated like an accordion, arranged in a spiral around a stem, with very marked veins and a downy underside; autumn crocus leaves come up in a tuft from the ground, with no smell. False hellebore causes, within one to four hours, vomiting, tingling, a drop in blood pressure and a slowed heart; autumn crocus, the failure of several organs. The smell of garlic stays on your fingers: crush each leaf one by one, with clean hands.

If in the slightest doubt, leave it. If you feel unwell after eating it, even several hours later, call Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) or 911.