Allium paniculatum, L.

56. A. paniculatum L. , Syst. Nat. ed. 10, 2: 978 (1759).

Bulbs 1-2-5 cm in diameter; outer tunics membranous. Stem 30-70 cm. Leaves 3-5, up to 25 cm x (1—)2(—5) mm, sheathing the lower of the stem, linear, canaliculate above, prominently ribbed beneath. Spathe 2-valved; valves unequal, ovate to narrowly lanceolate at base, contracted above into a long appendage, the longer valve 5-14 cm, greatly exceeding the pedicels. Umbel 3-5-7 cm in diameter, diffuse, hemispherical to ovoid, usually many-flowered, without bulbils; pedicels 10-70 mm, very unequal, the outer curving outwards, the inner erect. Perianth campanulate, becoming narrowly ovoid; segments 4-5-7 x 1-5- 2- 5 mm, narrowly obovate to elliptical, usually obtuse. Stamens included or slightly exserted; filaments c. 5 mm, connate at base into an annulus c. 1-5 mm high, sometimes with a small tooth in the sinus; anthers yellow. Ovary ellipsoid, twice as long as wide, narrowed at base and apex; style 1-2 mm, slightly exserted. Capsule c. 5 mm. 2« = 16,40. Europe, northwards to N.C. France, S.E. Czechoslovakia and C. Russia. Al Bu Co Cr Cz Ga Gr Hs Hu It Ju Lu Rm Rs (C, W, K, E) Sa Si Tu [Az].

Very variable; the following classification is provisional.

1 Leaf-sheath hairy (d) subsp. villosulum 1 Leaf-sheaths glabrous

2 Perianth lilac-pink or white (a) subsp. paniculatum 2Perianth brownish, yellowish or dirty white, sometimes tinged with pink or with reddish streaks

3 Spathe-valves usually 2-many times as long as umbel;

perianth 5-6 mm (b) subsp. fuscum

3 Spathe-valves not more than twice as long as umbel;

perianth 4-4-5 mm (c) subsp. euboicum