Allium

Wild garlicAllium vinale).

Allium is the genus of onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, and chives. The aroma is characteristic of the entire genus but not all members have a strong flavor.

There are about 1250 species in this genus, although the number is not definitive, because Allium is taxonomically difficult and numerous disputed border species are discussed. The type species of the genus is Allium sativum.

In the APG III Classification System Allium is included in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Allioideae (formerly the family Alliaceae). In some older classification systems, Allium was placed in the family Liliaceae.

Description

They are annual or biennial bulbous plants that grow in temperate climates of the northern hemisphere, except for a few species that grow in Chile, such as (Allium juncifolium), in Brazil (Allium sellovianum) or in tropical Africa (Allium spathaceum). Its height can vary between 10 cm and 1.5 m and the flowers form an umbel at the end of a leafless stem. The size of the bulbs also varies considerably and they form bulbils around the main one. Many species of the genus Allium are phytochemically characterized by the formation of allyl sulfides and sulfoxides, in whose biosynthesis alliin has been detected as the main precursor.

Taxonomy

The genus was described by Carlos Linnaeus and published in Species Plantarum 1: 294. 1753. The type species is: Allium sativum L.

Etymology

Allium: very old generic name. Plants of this genus were known to both the Romans and the Greeks. However, the term appears to be of Celtic origin, meaning 'to burn', in reference to the plant's strong pungent odor. One of the first to use this name for botanical purposes was the French naturalist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1656-1708).

Ornamental garlic

Allium detail 'Gladiator'.

Allium detail 'Mount Everest'.

Numerous species of Allium are used in landscaping to beautify parks and gardens and are known as "ornamental garlic". They are easy to grow although they are not very popular, perhaps because of the garlicky smell they give off. Its inflorescences have a long life in water, so they are also useful as cut flowers. Also, dried inflorescences are used for home decoration. The diversity that these ornamental species present, both in height (from 2 to 12 dm), as well as in the shape and color of the foliage (from thin leaves to very broad, dark green to bluish green) and color of the flowers (yellow, white, blue, purple and pink) makes them extremely versatile to place in different types of gardens. They present two basic types of inflorescences:

Large areas

• Allium giantum,
• Allium albopilosum,
• Allium sphaerocephalon,
• Allium aflatunense and
• Allium karataviense.

In small groups of erect or decumbent flowers

• Allium narcissiflorum,
• Allium triquetrum,
• Allium beesianum and the popular
• Allium moly.