Allium scorodoprasum, L.

87. A. scorodoprasum L. , Sp. Pl. 297 (1753) View Cited Treatment .

Bulbs 1-2 cm in diameter, ovoid; outer tunics membranous, sometimes breaking into fibrous strips; bulblets reddish-black. Stem 25-90 cm. Leaves 2-5, up to 27 cm x 20 mm, linear, narrowed at base, flat or canaliculate, solid, sheathing the lower of the stem. Spathe c. 1 -5 cm, shortly beaked, deciduous. Umbel 1-5 cm in diameter; pedicels up to 20 mm, unequal. Perianth ovoid; segments lilac to dark purple, the outer 4-6- 5 x 1 -5-2- 5 mm, lanceolate or narrowly ovate, the inner 4-7 x 1 - 5-3-5 mm, narrowly oblong or ovate, subacute or obtuse, papillose along the keel. Stamens included, usually papillose; outer 3 filaments 2- 5-4- 5 mm, simple, very narrowly triangular, the inner 3 with the basal lamina 3 or more times as long as the central cusp, the lateral cusps 2-3 times as long as the central cusp; anthers yellow. Capsule c. 5 mm. Most of Europe, northwards to England and S. Finland, but rare in the south-west. Au?B1 Br Bu Co Cz Da Fe Ga Ge Gr He Ho Hs Hu It Ju No Po Rm Rs (B, C, W, K, E) Su Tu [Be Hb].

The following are usually treated as distinct species.

1 Umbel with purplish bulbils and 0-12 flowers, apparently sterile (d) subsp. scorodoprasum 1 Umbel without bulbils, many-flowered, subglobose or hemispherical

2 Perianth pinkish or rose-violet; Krym (c) subsp. jajlae 2 Perianth dark purple

3 Outer perianth-segments dark purple, the inner paler, with broad, whitish margin (a) subsp. rotundum 3 Outer and inner perianth-segments uniformly dark purple

(b) subsp. waldsteinii