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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Allium''
| image = Alliumvineale1web.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Crow Garlic (''Allium vineale'') flowerhead, showing sprouting bulbils
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Alliaceae]]
| subfamilia = Allioideae
| tribus = Allieae
| genus = '''''Allium'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
Some important species:<br>
''[[Allium acuminatum]]'' - tapertip onion<br>
''[[Allium ampeloprasum]]''<br>
:''A. a.'' var. ''ampeloprasum'' - [[elephant garlic]]<br>
:''A. a.'' var. ''kurrat'' - [[kurrat]]<br>
:''A. a.'' var. ''porrum'' - [[leek (vegetable)|leek]]<br>
''[[Allium anceps]]'' - twinleaf onion<br>
''[[Allium angulosum]]'' - mouse garlic<br>
''[[Allium atrorubens]]'' - dark red onion<br>
''[[Allium campanulatum]]'' - dusky onion<br>
''[[Allium canadense]]'' - Canadian garlic<br>
''[[Allium cepa]]'' - garden onion <br>
''[[Welsh onion|Allium fistulosum]]'' - Welsh onion<br>
''[[Allium neapolitanum]]'' - white garlic<br>
''[[Allium nevii]]'' - Nevius' garlic<br>
''[[Allium nigrum]]'' - black garlic<br>
''[[Allium oleraceum]]'' - field garlic<br>
''[[Shallot|Allium oschaninii]]'' - shallot<br>
''[[Allium ramosum]]'' - wild Chinese chives<br>
''[[Allium sativum]]'' - cultivated garlic<br>
''[[Allium schoenoprasum]]'' - chives<br>
''[[Allium scorodoprasum]]'' - Sand leek
''[[Allium triquetrum]]'' - three-cornered leek, triquetous garlic<br>
''[[Garlic chives|Allium tuberosum]]'' - Chinese chives<br>
''[[Allium ursinum]]'' - wild garlic, ramsons<br>
''[[Allium vineale]]'' - crow garlic<br>
'''See [[List of Allium species|full list]].'''<br>
}}
'''''Allium''''' is the [[onion]] [[genus]], with about 1250 [[species]], making it one of the largest plant genera in the world. They are [[perennial plant|perennial]] bulbous plants that produce chemical compounds that give them a characteristic onion or garlic taste and odor, and many are used as food plants. ''Allium'' is classified in family [[Alliaceae]] although some classifications have included it in the [[lily]] family ([[Liliaceae]]).
''Allium'' species occur in [[temperate climate]]s of the [[northern hemisphere]], except for a few species occurring in Chile (as ''Allium juncifolium''), Brazil (''Allium sellovianum'') or tropical Africa (''Allium spathaceum''). They can vary in height between 5 cm and 150 cm. The [[flower]]s form an [[umbel]] at the top of a leafless stalk. The [[bulb]]s vary in size between species, from very small (around 2–3 mm in diameter) to rather big (8–10 cm). Some species (such as Welsh onion, ''A. fistulosum'') develop thickened leaf-bases rather than forming bulbs as such.
Most bulbous alliums increase by forming little bulbs or "offsets" around the old one, as well as by [[seed]]. Several species can form many [[Bulb#Bulbil|bulbils]] (tiny bulbs) in the flowerhead; in the so-called "[[tree onion]]" (''A. cepa'' Proliferum Group) the bulbils are few, but large enough to be used for [[pickling]].
Members of the genus include many valued [[vegetable]]s such as [[onion]]s, [[shallots]], [[Leek (vegetable)|leeks]] and [[herb]]s such as [[garlic]] and [[chives]]. A strong "oniony" odor is characteristic of the whole genus, but not all members are equally flavorful.
[[Image:Allium giganteum1.jpg|left|150px|thumb|''A. giganteum'']]
Some ''Allium'' species, including ''A. cristophii'' and ''A. giganteum'', are used as [[herbaceous border|border]] plants for their flowers, and their "architectural" qualities. Several [[hybrid]]s 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). By contrast, other species (such as the invasive ''Allium triquetrum'') can become troublesome garden [[weed]]s.
Various ''Allium'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] inclu
ding [[Cabbage Moth]], [[Common Swift (moth)|Common Swift]] moth (recorded on garlic), [[Garden Dart]] moth, [[Large Yellow Underwing]] moth, [[Nutmeg (moth)|Nutmeg]] moth, [[Setaceous Hebrew Character]] moth, [[Turnip Moth]] and ''[[Schinia|Schinia rosea]]'', a moth which feeds exclusively on ''Allium spp''.
<gallery>
Image:Nodding.jpg|Nodding Wild Onion (''Allium cernuum'')
Image:Leeks.JPG|Leeks (''Allium ampeloprasum'' var. ''porrum'')
</gallery>
== External links ==
{{commonscat|Allium}}
[[Category:Asparagales]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Allium''
| image = Alliumvineale1web.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Crow Garlic (''Allium vineale'') flowerhead, showing sprouting bulbils
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Alliaceae]]
| subfamilia = Allioideae
| tribus = Allieae
| genus = '''''Allium'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
Some important species:<br>
''[[Allium acuminatum]]'' - tapertip onion<br>
''[[Allium ampeloprasum]]''<br>
:''A. a.'' var. ''ampeloprasum'' - [[elephant garlic]]<br>
:''A. a.'' var. ''kurrat'' - [[kurrat]]<br>
:''A. a.'' var. ''porrum'' - [[leek (vegetable)|leek]]<br>
''[[Allium anceps]]'' - twinleaf onion<br>
''[[Allium angulosum]]'' - mouse garlic<br>
''[[Allium atrorubens]]'' - dark red onion<br>
''[[Allium campanulatum]]'' - dusky onion<br>
''[[Allium canadense]]'' - Canadian garlic<br>
''[[Allium cepa]]'' - garden onion <br>
''[[Welsh onion|Allium fistulosum]]'' - Welsh onion<br>
''[[Allium neapolitanum]]'' - white garlic<br>
''[[Allium nevii]]'' - Nevius' garlic<br>
''[[Allium nigrum]]'' - black garlic<br>
''[[Allium oleraceum]]'' - field garlic<br>
''[[Shallot|Allium oschaninii]]'' - shallot<br>
''[[Allium ramosum]]'' - wild Chinese chives<br>
''[[Allium sativum]]'' - cultivated garlic<br>
''[[Allium schoenoprasum]]'' - chives<br>
''[[Allium scorodoprasum]]'' - Sand leek
''[[Allium triquetrum]]'' - three-cornered leek, triquetous garlic<br>
''[[Garlic chives|Allium tuberosum]]'' - Chinese chives<br>
''[[Allium ursinum]]'' - wild garlic, ramsons<br>
''[[Allium vineale]]'' - crow garlic<br>
'''See [[List of Allium species|full list]].'''<br>
}}
'''''Allium''''' is the [[onion]] [[genus]], with about 1250 [[species]], making it one of the largest plant genera in the world. They are [[perennial plant|perennial]] bulbous plants that produce chemical compounds that give them a characteristic onion or garlic taste and odor, and many are used as food plants. ''Allium'' is classified in family [[Alliaceae]] although some classifications have included it in the [[lily]] family ([[Liliaceae]]).
''Allium'' species occur in [[temperate climate]]s of the [[northern hemisphere]], except for a few species occurring in Chile (as ''Allium juncifolium''), Brazil (''Allium sellovianum'') or tropical Africa (''Allium spathaceum''). They can vary in height between 5 cm and 150 cm. The [[flower]]s form an [[umbel]] at the top of a leafless stalk. The [[bulb]]s vary in size between species, from very small (around 2–3 mm in diameter) to rather big (8–10 cm). Some species (such as Welsh onion, ''A. fistulosum'') develop thickened leaf-bases rather than forming bulbs as such.
Most bulbous alliums increase by forming little bulbs or "offsets" around the old one, as well as by [[seed]]. Several species can form many [[Bulb#Bulbil|bulbils]] (tiny bulbs) in the flowerhead; in the so-called "[[tree onion]]" (''A. cepa'' Proliferum Group) the bulbils are few, but large enough to be used for [[pickling]].
Members of the genus include many valued [[vegetable]]s such as [[onion]]s, [[shallots]], [[Leek (vegetable)|leeks]] and [[herb]]s such as [[garlic]] and [[chives]]. A strong "oniony" odor is characteristic of the whole genus, but not all members are equally flavorful.
[[Image:Allium giganteum1.jpg|left|150px|thumb|''A. giganteum'']]
Some ''Allium'' species, including ''A. cristophii'' and ''A. giganteum'', are used as [[herbaceous border|border]] plants for their flowers, and their "architectural" qualities. Several [[hybrid]]s 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). By contrast, other species (such as the invasive ''Allium triquetrum'') can become troublesome garden [[weed]]s.
Various ''Allium'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] inclu
ding [[Cabbage Moth]], [[Common Swift (moth)|Common Swift]] moth (recorded on garlic), [[Garden Dart]] moth, [[Large Yellow Underwing]] moth, [[Nutmeg (moth)|Nutmeg]] moth, [[Setaceous Hebrew Character]] moth, [[Turnip Moth]] and ''[[Schinia|Schinia rosea]]'', a moth which feeds exclusively on ''Allium spp''.
<gallery>
Image:Nodding.jpg|Nodding Wild Onion (''Allium cernuum'')
Image:Leeks.JPG|Leeks (''Allium ampeloprasum'' var. ''porrum'')
</gallery>
== External links ==
{{commonscat|Allium}}
[[Category:Asparagales]]