allium

Allium
Allium flavum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Alliaceae
Genus:	Allium L.
Species
Some important species: Allium acuminatum — tapertip onion Allium ampeloprasum — (Broadleaf) wild leek A. a. var. ampeloprasum — elephant garlic A. a. var. kurrat — kurrat A. a. var. porrum — leek Allium anceps — twinleaf onion Allium angulosum — mouse garlic Allium aflatunense Allium atrorubens — dark red onion Allium caeruleum — blue globe onion Allium campanulatum — dusky onion Allium canadense — Canadian garlic Allium cepa — garden onion Allium cernuum — nodding onion Allium chinense Allium fistulosum — Welsh onion Allium giganteum — giant onion Allium hollandicum Allium neapolitanum — white garlic Allium nevii — Nevius' garlic Allium nigrum — black garlic Allium oleraceum — field garlic Allium oschaninii — shallot Allium paradoxum — Few-flowered garlic Allium ramosum — wild Chinese chives Allium sativum — cultivated garlic Allium schoenoprasum — chives Allium scorodoprasum — Sand leek Allium sieberianum — Schult.f. Allium textile — prairie onion Allium tricoccum — wild leek, ramp Allium triquetrum — three-cornered leek, triquetous garlic Allium tuncelianum — Tunceli garlic Allium tuberosum — Chinese chives Allium ursinum — wild garlic, ramsons Allium vineale — crow garlic, wild onion See full list.

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Allium is the onion genus, with about 1,250 species, making it one of the largest plant genera in the world. Allium is classified in family Alliaceae although some botanical authorities have included it in the lily family (Liliaceae).

The true number of Allium species is unknown, and estimates vary widely. Members of the genus include many industrial crops and garden vegetables such as onions (A. cepa), shallots (A. oschaninii), leeks (A. ampeloprasum), scallions (A. ascalonicum) and herbs such as garlic (A. sativum) and chives (A. schoenoprasum). They are perennial bulbous plants that produce chemical compounds (mostly cysteine sulfoxide) that give them a characteristic onion or garlic taste and odor, and many are used as food plants, though not all members of the family are equally flavorful. In most cases, both bulb and leaves are edible. Their taste may be strong or weaker depending on the species.

Allium species occur in temperate climates of the northern hemisphere, except for a few species occurring in Chile (such as Allium juncifolium), Brazil (Allium sellovianum) or tropical Africa (Allium spathaceum). They can vary in height between 5 cm and 150 cm. The flowers form an umbel at the top of a leafless stalk. The bulbs vary in size between species, from very small (around 2–3 mm in diameter) to rather large (8–10 cm). Some species (such as Welsh onion, A. fistulosum) develop thickened leaf-bases rather than forming bulbs as such.

Description

Allium species are herbaceous perennials with flowers produced on scapes. They grow from solitary or clustered tunicate bulbs and many have an onion odor and taste. Plants are perennialized by bulbs that reform annually from the base of the old bulb, or are produced on the ends of rhizomes or, in a few species, at the ends of stolons. A small number of species have tuberous roots. The bulbs have outer coats that are commonly brown or gray, with a smooth texture, and are fibrous, or with cellular reticulation. The inner coats of the bulbs are membranous.

Many alliums have basal leaves that commonly wither away from the tips downward before or while the plant flower, but some species have persistent foliage. Plants produce from one to twelve leaves, most species having linear, channeled or flat leaf blades. The leaf blades are straight or variously coiled, but some species have broad leaves, including A. victorialis and A. tricoccum. The leaves are sessile, and very rarely narrowed into a petiole.

The terete or flattened flowering scapes are normally persistent. The inflorescences are umbels, in which the outside flowers bloom first and flowering progresses to the inside. Some species produce bulbils within the umbels, and in some species the bulbils replace some or all the flowers. The umbels are subtended by noticeable spathe bracts, which are commonly fused and normally have around 3 veins.

The flowers are erect or in some species pendent, having six petal-like tepals produced in two whorls. The flowers have one style and six epipetalous stamens; the anthers and pollen can vary in color depending on the species. The ovaries are superior, and three-lobed with three locules.

The fruits are capsules that open longitudinally along the capsule wall between the partitions of the locule.^[1][2]The seeds are black, and have a rounded shape.

Some bulbous alliums increase by forming little bulbs or "offsets" around the old one, as well as by seed. Several species can form many bulbils in the flowerhead; in the so-called "tree onion" or Egyptian onion (A. cepa Proliferum Group) the bulbils are few, but large enough to be pickled.

Taxonomy

Allium taxonomy is poorly understood, with incorrrect descriptions being widespread. This very large genus has been divided into Sections (subgenera), one of the largest of which is Rhizirideum, the rhizomatous alliums. ^[3] Examples include A. albidum, A. carolinianum and A. hookeri. There are about 150–170 species in this section. ^[4] Although molecular analysis suggests two large groupings within the genus Allium, it has been more traditionally treated as subgenera, which also include Nectaroscordum, Amerallium, in one group and Caloscordum, Milula and Rhizorideum in the other. Another subgenus, Bromatorrhiza, is no longer supported as a distinct taxon. ^[5] Other subgenera include Melanocrommyum ^[6] and Allium. ^[7]

Habitat

The majority of Allium species are native to the Northern hemisphere, mainly in Asia. A few species are native to Africa and Central and South America.^[8] Species grow in various conditions from dry, well-drained mineral-based soils to moist, organic soils; most grow in sunny locations but a number also grow in forests.

Cultivation

Some Allium species, including A. cristophii and A. giganteum, are used as border plants for their ornamental flowers, and their "architectural" qualities.^[9] Several hybrids have been bred, or selected, with rich purple flowers. Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' is one of the most popular and has been given an Award of Garden Merit (H4).^[10] These ornamental onions come in a wide variety of sizes and colours, ranging from white (A. 'Mont Blanc'), blue (A. caruleum), to yellow (A. flavum) and purple (A. giganteum). By contrast, other species (such as invasive Allium triquetrum and A. ursinum) can become troublesome garden weeds.^[9][11]

Various Allium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera including Cabbage Moth, common swift moth (recorded on garlic), Garden Dart moth, Large Yellow Underwing moth, Nutmeg moth, Setaceous Hebrew Character moth, Turnip Moth and Schinia rosea, a moth that feeds exclusively on Allium species.

Dogs and cats are very susceptible to poisoning after the consumption of certain species.^[12]

References

Allium 'Gladiator'	Nodding wild onion (Allium cernuum)	Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum)	Allium 'Lucy Ball'
Allium giganteum	Allium obliquum

External links

• Bloomsta.com Florist Community
• Pacific Bulb Society

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