How do the leaves of onion grass (A. vineale) differ structurally from true wild onion (A. tricoccum)?
Answer
A. vineale leaves are round or slightly flattened and hollow, unlike the broad, flat leaves of A. tricoccum.
Accurate identification requires noting structural differences between related wild alliums. For *Allium vineale*, the leaves are characterized as being round or slightly flattened and notably hollow, which contributes to its grass-like appearance. In contrast, true wild onion, *Allium tricoccum*, is distinguished by its leaves being broad and flat. Furthermore, the growth habits differ, as *A. tricoccum* typically has flat leaves arising from a basal bulb, while *A. vineale* tends to have solid, typically round stems that often lack leaves near the base.
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