Allium oleraceum, L.

63. A. oleraceum L. , Sp. Pl. 299 (1753) View Cited Treatment .

Bulbs 1—1-5 cm in diameter; outer tunics membranous. Stem 25-100 cm. Leaves 2-4, up to 25 cm x 0-5-4 mm, linear to filiform, fistular in lower part, canaliculate above, prominently ribbed beneath, the veins usually scabrid with minute teeth; sheathing the lower | or more of the stem. Spathe 2-valved; valves unequal, lanceolate at base,

contracted above into a long slender appendage longer than the pedicels, the longer up to 20 cm. Umbel diffuse, lax, 5- to 40- flowered, with few or many bulbils, sometimes with bulbils only, the outermost pedicels curving downwards at anthesis; pedicels 15-60 mm, unequal, slightly flattened or winged. Perianth campanulate; segments 7 x 2-5-3 mm, whitish, variably tinged with green, pink or brown, the outer narrowly obovate, the inner oblong-elliptical, obtuse, mucronate. Stamens included; filaments 4-5-5- 5 mm, connate at base into an annulus c. 1 -5 mm high; anthers yellow or reddish. Ovary at anthesis narrowly obovoid, c. 4 times as long as wide, rounded-truncate at apex. Capsule rarely produced. 2n = 32, 40. Cultivated land, roadsides, rocky ground and scrub. Much of Europe, but rare in most of the south. Au Be Br Bu Co Cz Da Fe Ga Ge He Ho Hu It Ju No Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W, E) Si Su [Is].