Biology:Allium carinatum

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Short description: Species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae

Allium carinatum
Allium carinatum Sturm38.jpg
Allium carinatum[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Allioideae
Genus: Allium
Subgenus: A. subg. Allium
Species:
A. carinatum
Binomial name
Allium carinatum
Synonyms[3]

Allium carinatum, the keeled garlic[4] or witch's garlic, is a bulbous perennial flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is widespread across central and southern Europe, with some populations in Asiatic Turkey. It is cultivated in many places as an ornamental and also for its potently aromatic bulbs used as a food flavoring.[5]

Varieties

Numerous botanical names have been coined within the species at the varietal level, but only two are recognized:[6]

  • Allium carinatum subsp. carinatum - most of species range
  • Allium carinatum subsp. pulchellum (G.Don) Bonnier & Layens - central Europe + Balkans

Description

Allium carinatum produces a single small bulb rarely more than 15 mm long, flat leaves, and an umbel up to 60 cm tall of purple to reddish-purple flowers. The flowers are on long pedicels and often nodding (hanging downwards).[7][8]

Distribution

Allium carinatum is considered native to the Mediterranean Region from Spain to Turkey, north to Sweden and the Baltic Republics. It is naturalized in the British Isles[6]

Cultivation

A. carinatum subsp. pulchellum[9] and the white flowering form A. carinatum subsp. pulchellum f. album[10] have both gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

References

Wikidata ☰ Q159278 entry