Allium schoenoprasum, L.

18. A. schoenoprasum L. , Sp. Pl. 301 (1753) View Cited Treatment .

Bulbs 0-5—1 cm in diameter, very narrowly conical, clustered on a short rhizome; outer tunics membranous, sometimes splitting into coriaceous strips. Stem 5-50 cm, hollow. Leaves 1-2, up to 35 cm x 1-6 mm, sheathing up to the lower | of the stem, sometimes almost basal, cylindrical, fistular. Spathe up to 1-5 cm, with the 2-3 ovate lobes mucronate, equalling or shorter than umbel, persistent. Umbel 1-5-5 cm in diameter, hemispherical or ovoid, dense, with 8-30 flowers; pedicels 2-15 mm. Perianth-segments 7-15 x 2- 5-4 mm, lilac or pale purple, occasionally white, usually lanceolate, acute or acuminate. Stamens included; filaments 3-6 mm, c. | as long as segments; anthers yellow. Capsule 4 mm. 2h=16. Streamsides, damp meadows, damp mountain rocks and rocky pastures. Much of Europe, but only on mountains in the south; cultivatedfor its edible leaves andfrequently naturalized. Au Br Bu Co Cz Da Fe Ga Ge Gr *Hb He Ho Hs It Ju Lu No Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W, E) Su [Az Be].

Very variable and plastic, with some local differentiation. Numerous variants have been described but they show considerable overlap in characters. Possibly the most distinct is a robust arctic-montane taxon ( A. montanum Schrank , non F. W.

Schmidt, A.foliosum Clarion ex DC. ) up to 50 cm high with the umbel 3-5 cm in diameter and long-acuminate perianth-segments 10-15 mm, sometimes distinguished as var. alpinum DC. , var. sibiricum (L.) Garcke or subsp. sibiricum (L.) Ćelak. (though doubtfully identical with the probably tetraploid A. sibiricum L. of Siberia).