Allium commutatum, Guss.

81. A. commutatum Guss. , Enum. Pl. Inar. 339 (1854)

( A. ampeloprasum var. commutatum (Guss.) Fiori , A. bimetrale Gand. , A. ampeloprasum subsp. bimetrale (Gand.) Hayek ).

Bulbs up to 6 cm in diameter, subglobose; outer tunics membranous or coriaceous, enclosing large yellowish bulblets. Stem up to 180 cm, solid. Leaves 5- 11, up to 50 x 5 cm, sheathing the lower of the stem, canaliculate but not keeled, glabrous. Spathe 1 - valved, with ovoid base c. 2 cm, abruptly contracted above into a 2-edged beak 16-30 cm, caducous. Perianth ovoid; segments 4 x 1-5 mm, whitish-pink or dull magenta with green or purple keel, the outer lanceolate, acute, strongly concave, the inner narrowly obovate, obtuse, with serrate margin, all covered externally with minute papillae (only visible under microscope). Stamens exserted; outer 3 filaments c. 5 mm, usually tricuspidate with the basal lamina c. 0-5 mm wide, or sometimes simple; inner with the base c. 1 mm wide, the base and the lateral cusps about as long as the central cusp. Capsule c. 4 mm. 2« = 16, 24, 32. Open habitats near the sea. C. & E. Mediterranean region. Co Cr Gr It Ju Sa Si.