Garlic Mustard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeksYDl2Mvg

Locations
Surrounding the Hampshire tree and along side the soccer field one can find patches of garlic mustard.

How to Identify
Alliaria petiolata - or Garlic Mustard - has also been known as Hedge-Garlic, Sauce-Alone, Jack-by-the-Hedge, Poor Man's Mustard, Garlicwort, and Mustard Root. The plant has simple cordate leaves with thickly serrated edges. When flowering, the plant can reach 2-1/2 to 3 feet in height, with clusters of small, white, polypetalous, actinomorphic flowers with cruciform petals.

Uses
Garlic Mustard is an invasive species which grows abundantly around the Hampshire woods. Its' presence has been known to be detrimental to its native plant neighbors as it aggressively consumes nutrients in the soil and none of its 69 known insect predators are native to this area. There are several known uses for Garlic Mustard, and because it is an invasive species one should feel no reservation in harvesting this plant. This is an edible plant; its' leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Garlic Mustard appears in late winter and early spring when many other edible greens have not yet begun to grow. Garlic Mustard is high in Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Garlic Mustard also has several medicinal properties: the leaves have been known to induce sweating and combat respiratory illnesses such as asthma. When applied as a poultice Garlic Mustard can be effective in soothing insect bites and stings.