leek
Enable an agent to recognise a leek, assess its growing or harvested condition, and decide appropriate cultivation, handling or culinary actions.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
5 bundles · 9 layers · 16 findings · 24 questions
Leek identity Evidence that the specimen belongs to the registry's intended cultivated-leek concept.
Planting provenance
Traceable names and origins supporting identification.
Documented leek identity
Record the supplied plant name, cultivar if known, and evidence connecting that label to this specimen.
- Which seed, transplant or supplier record identifies this specimen as leek? provenance
- Does the recorded name denote cultivated leek, or is a label such as 'wild leek' being used ambiguously? boundary
Allium comparison
Observable features distinguishing leek from nearby plant concepts.
Leaf, shaft and base test
Assess leaf cross-section, overlapping sheaths and basal swelling together, allowing for missing parts and immature growth.
- Are the blades flat and strap-like, and is the shaft visibly composed of overlapping leaf sheaths? measurement
- What evidence distinguishes this specimen from an immature onion, garlic or another broad-leaved allium? boundary
Shaft and usable portions The leek's sheath-built shaft, blanching and retained plant parts.
Shaft geometry and blanching
Comparable observations of shaft size and pale length.
Defined shaft measurements
Record shaft dimensions separately from pale colour extent and from the full plant length.
- What are the shaft length and diameter, and where were their measurement boundaries placed? measurement
- How much of the sheath-built shaft is pale, and what observable colour boundary defines that measurement? measurement
Retained and removed parts
The condition and disposition of roots, shaft, outer sheaths and green leaves.
Portion-specific usability
Assess each retained portion against its condition and intended preparation rather than assuming only the pale shaft is usable.
- Which roots, outer sheaths, shaft sections and green leaf portions remain after trimming? measurement
- Which portions can be retained for the intended use, and what observed condition justifies removing others? action
Growth and harvest decisions Developmental evidence governing continued growth, blanching, lifting or reproductive use.
Vegetative and reproductive state
Whether the leek is developing vegetatively or producing a flowering stalk.
Development and bolting evidence
Record developmental observations and relate them to the intended harvest or seed-production purpose.
- Is there an emerging central flowering stalk, an inflorescence or seed development? measurement
- Given its developmental stage and intended use, should this leek remain growing, be harvested or be retained for reproduction? action
Shaft production and lifting
The relationship between the growing position, desired shaft and harvest operation.
Blanching and harvest choice
Connect current shaft development and documented growing practice to a specific next intervention.
- What planting depth, earthing-up or collaring history is recorded for the pale shaft? provenance
- Do the intended shaft size, current condition and growing context support further blanching, continued growth or lifting now? action
Condition, cleaning and storage Leek-specific inspection of layered tissues, deterioration and postharvest handling.
Layered tissue inspection
Visible and concealed condition across leaves, sheath junctions and the base.
Localised damage and debris
Record the location and extent of soil, feeding damage, lesions and abnormal tissue without assigning an unsupported cause.
- Where are soil, debris, feeding tracks, lesions or soft areas present, including between inspected sheaths? measurement
- What further opening, cleaning or diagnostic inspection is needed before deciding whether affected portions are usable? action
Postharvest handling state
Evidence connecting lifting, trimming, washing and storage to current condition.
Handling history and next use
Combine recorded handling with present firmness, wilting, discolouration and abnormal odour; appearance alone does not establish food safety.
- When was the leek lifted, washed or cut, and what storage conditions are actually documented? provenance
- Given its handling history and observed condition, what evidence supports further storage, prompt preparation or disposal? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of leek this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of leek this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of leek this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of leek this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of leek this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of leek this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of leek this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of leek this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- PHY
- Domain
- PHY.LIV
- Other names and narrower kinds
- leek shoots
What it is Filled
A cultivated biennial allium (Allium ampeloprasum Leek Group, often still treated as Allium porrum) grown for an edible cylindrical pseudostem of concentric, flattened leaf sheaths that is typically harvested in the first year before bolting, rather than for a true bulb.
In scope
- Identification as a cultivated leek and confidence in that identification
- Root system, overlapping leaf sheaths, edible shaft and leaf blades
- Vegetative development, flowering and harvest readiness
- Blanching, shaft dimensions and available edible portions
- Damage, contamination observations and postharvest condition
Out of scope
- Field or garden management as a whole
- Soil, irrigation water and fertiliser as independent things
- Diseases and pest organisms as independent biological models
- Recipes, prepared dishes and nutritional plans
- Seed lots, commercial consignments and packaging systems
Why it exists Filled
Enable an agent to recognise a leek, assess its growing or harvested condition, and decide appropriate cultivation, handling or culinary actions.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Check for a shaft formed by overlapping leaf sheaths rather than treating the pale cylindrical portion as a true stem.
- Check for predominantly flat, strap-like leaf blades; conspicuously hollow tubular blades suggest alternatives such as bunching onions.
- Check whether the base lacks the conspicuous rounded storage bulb typical of a mature bulb onion; immature plants require additional evidence.
- Distinguish leek from garlic and other broad-leaved alliums using planting provenance and the combined leaf, shaft and basal form, rather than smell alone.
- Treat labels such as 'wild leek' as unresolved identification evidence until their intended plant identity is established.
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Apply pesticides above label rates or within the harvest interval.
- Feed leeks or other alliums to dogs and cats.
- Sell leeks with misleading origin or organic claims.
- Harvest leeks from someone else's plot without permission.
Only with a human decision
- Destroying a crop for plant health reasons.
May
- Identify, grow, harvest and store leeks following good practice.
- Report pests such as leek moth and allium leaf miner to the grower.
Moral aspects Filled
- Food crops support growers' livelihoods; honest labelling protects buyers.
- The leek is a national emblem with cultural meaning in Wales.
Who is affected
- Growers
- Consumers
- Pets
Owners Filled
Steward
The grower or owner of the crop.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q11004 - registry parent class
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.leek
- Wikidata: Q1807269 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1807269)
Direct properties required Filled
- Identity confidence: confirmed from documented provenance | provisionally identified | unresolved
- Cultivar or planting identity: Link to cultivar, seed or transplant record; unknown permitted
- Attachment and processing state: rooted | lifted with roots | root-trimmed | leaf-trimmed | cut
- Shaft length and diameter: mm, with measurement endpoints and diameter position recorded
- Blanched shaft length: mm of pale leaf-sheath shaft, using a stated colour boundary
- Developmental stage: seedling | established vegetative | flowering stalk emerging | flowering | seed-bearing
- Leaf and shaft integrity: Observed firmness, wilting, yellowing, lesions, splitting or softening, with location and extent
- Trapped soil and debris: not inspected | absent in inspected areas | present, with location between sheaths or on roots
- Harvest and storage history: Links to harvest time, washing, trimming and recorded storage conditions
Recognition required Filled
- A long white cylindrical stem of tightly wrapped sheaths.
- Flat, blue-green leaves fanning out in two ranks at the top.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Compare morphology and planting provenance to resolve leek identity.
- Assess whether to continue growing, harvest or retain the plant for reproductive development.
- Evaluate whether additional shaft blanching is appropriate to the growing context.
- Separate roots, pale shaft and green leaves according to condition and intended use.
- Open or separate leaf sheaths to inspect and remove trapped soil.
- Select storage, prompt preparation or disposal using condition and handling evidence.
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Alliums are toxic to dogs and cats.
- Soil and grit trapped between leaves when poorly washed.
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- UNECE Standard FFV-21, issued by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, specifies commercial quality requirements for leeks.
- Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, establishes general food safety and traceability requirements applicable to leeks marketed as food in the European Union.
Context of use required Filled
- Leeks are cultivated in gardens and commercial fields and sold as fresh vegetables.
- Their leaf sheaths and tender leaves are used in soups, stews and other cooked dishes for their mild onion flavour.
Sources Filled
- Allium ampeloprasum L. (GRIN-Global taxonomy) - Accepted species placement of cultivated leek, kurrat and elephant garlic in the A. ampeloprasum complex, with common synonyms including A. porrum.
- UNECE STANDARD FFV-21 concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of leeks - Trade definition, quality classes Extra/I/II, minimum shaft and leaf presentation rules, and sizing practice for fresh leeks in international commerce.
- Codex Standard for Food Grade Salt is not relevant; Codex classification of foods CXA 4 and related fresh-vegetable commodity notes treat leeks as a bulb/leaf Allium vegetable - Placement of leek among Allium vegetables for residue and commodity grouping; used cautiously because there is no dedicated Codex commodity standard solely for fresh leek.
- Leeks: grow your own - Horticultural distinction of early, mid-season and late/winter cultivars, typical UK cultural practice, and common disorders (rust, white rot, bolting, leek moth).
- Wikidata item Q1807269: leek - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Leek - general description of the item
Open questions
- Which botanical circumscription and accepted synonyms should define vr.tr.leek, particularly where common names overlap with other alliums?
- Which shaft measurement conventions and harvest criteria are appropriate across cultivars and intended uses?
- What locally applicable evidence should govern blanching methods and their limits under different soil and moisture conditions?
- Which symptoms reliably distinguish common leek pests, diseases and physiological damage, and which require expert or laboratory confirmation?
- What validated storage and food-use guidance applies to whole, washed, trimmed and cut leeks under the intended operating conditions?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q1807269/spec.json