garlic-onion odor

[Hawaiiarcher]

I live on 22nd in HPP and lately there has been a really stinky garlic onion odor given off by some plant in the morning after a rain. Stinks out the whole area not just around my house. Does anyone know what plant is doing that? I suspect the albizia because they are in bloom but I was hoping someone knew for sure. Its really strong like taking fresh chives and tying them to your face.

Dean

[Hawaiiarcher]

I might have found confirmation that the odiferous plant is indeed Albizia.

C.C. Gerhards published a scientific article for the US forest Service in 1966 about the properties of Albizia that were purposefully introduced to Hawaii for erosion control and wood pulp production. Here is an excerpt:

In manufacturing, two minor disadvantages of the wood should be noted. It is abrasive to saws, and dust or fumes resulting from working the wood tend to cause sneezing and tears. The wood has an odor of garlic or onion when green.
Although the wood is reported to be light. Molucca albizzia was introduced in Hawaii from British North Borneo in 1918. It has shown remarkable growth in several plantings, mainly on islands of Kauai and Hawaii.

And this from the university of Purdue" The woods are nonsiliceous, usually light colored with some open pores, and produce a sawdust that may cause sneezing. The wide ranging roots are said to taint the water supply with their peculiar nauseous odor.

Albizia was reported to be introduced to Hawaii by Joseph Rock in 1917 (Hawaii.edu). The new genus name is Falcataria but most people just call it by the common name of albizia.

Dean

[coppercoin40]

An additive to propane has a garlic odor. There could be a leaking propane line in the area.

[terracore]

I liken the smell you are referring to as being closer to the smell of mouse piss than garlic/onion. It is especially bad in Hilo after a rain. I thought it had something to do with vog.

[LaurelJ]

It's called "society garlic" google images to see a picture of the plant you are looking for. It's somewhat pretty but really stinky, hence I'm not sure why on earth people would plant it []

[coppercoin40]

quote:

---

Originally posted by LaurelJ

It's called "society garlic" google images to see a picture of the plant you are looking for. It's somewhat pretty but really stinky, hence I'm not sure why on earth people would plant it []

---

well at least it is edible, does it grow wild on BI LaurelJ? http://www.eattheweeds.com/society-garlic/

[terracore]

This doesn't explain the mouse piss odor during/after a rain.

[Chuysmom]

Ha ha..."mouse piss". LOL...(sorry.)

Carrie

http://www.sapphiresoap.etsy.com
http://www.septemberspirals.etsy.com

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future..." Galadriel LOTR

[pahoated]

Pretty sure it's the albizia, another reason they are so nasty. The bloom seems extraordinary this year, sections of the road covered in yellow. The odor is like a cross between something burning, sulphur, rotting flowers and yeah, rat piss. Garlic and onion smell good compared to this jungle rot smell.

"This island Hawaii on this island Earth"