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Published In: Species Plantarum 1: 294. 1753. (1 May 1753) (Sp. Pl.) Name publication detailView in BotanicusView in Biodiversity Heritage Library
 

Project Name Data (Last Modified On 7/9/2009)
Acceptance : Accepted
Project Data     (Last Modified On 7/22/2009)

 

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1. Allium L. (onion)

Plants perennial, with bulbs, with the odor of onion or garlic. Aerial stems unbranched, erect, sometimes arched or hooked near the tip. Leaves basal or sometimes 2–3 on the lower half of the aerial stems, sometimes absent at flowering time. Inflorescences at the tips of the aerial stems, umbels, enclosed by a papery to membranous spathelike sheath that splits into 1–3 bracts at maturity, usually withering quickly thereafter. Flowers sometimes some or all replaced by bulblets. Sepals and petals similar in size and shape, free. Stamens 6, free or fused to the base of the perianth. Style 1, the stigma entire or 3-lobed. Ovary superior, with 3 locules, each with 1–2 ovules. Fruits globose to ovoid capsules. Five hundred to 700 species, widespread in the Northern Hemisphere.

 

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1 Leaves absent at flowering, when present (15–)20–80 mm wide, more or less tapered to a petiole (2)
+ Leaves present at flowering, 2–15 mm wide, not tapering to a petiole (3)
2 (1) Leaves mostly 20–40 mm wide, the bases pale green to white; aerial stems 12–18 cm long; umbels with 6–22 flowers 1 Allium burdickii
+ Leaves mostly 40–80 mm wide, the bases pale and tinged with reddish purple; aerial stems (12–)25–45 cm long; umbels with 20–60 flowers 8 Allium tricoccum
3 (1) Leaves tubular, circular in cross-section and hollow (4)
+ Leaves flat or folded longitudinally (6)
4 (3) Aerial stems inflated below the middle 3 Allium cepa
+ Aerial stems not inflated (5)
5 (4) Leaves basal or nearly so; flower stalks shorter than the flowers; bulblets absent 6 Allium schoenoprasum
+ Leaves in the lower 1/3–1/2 of the aerial stems; flower stalks longer than the flowers; some or all of the flowers replaced by bulblets 9 Allium vineale
6 (3) Some or all of the flowers replaced by bulblets (7)
+ Bulblets absent (8)
7 (6) Leaves basal or nearly so, 2–6 mm wide; outer coats of the bulbs a dense network of anastomosing, hairlike fibers 2 Allium canadense
+ Leaves in the lower 1/3–1/2 of the aerial stems, 5–15 mm wide; outer coats of the bulbs smooth and papery 5 Allium sativum
8 (6) Outer coats of the bulbs a dense network of anastomosing, hairlike fibers; fruits lacking triangular projections 2 Allium canadense
+ Outer coats of bulbs smooth and membranous to papery; fruits with a pair of hornlike, triangular projections near the top of each of the 3 lobes (9)
9 (8) Aerial stems arched or hooked near the tip at flowering; perianth bell-shaped 4 Allium cernuum
+ Aerial stems sometimes arched or hooked near the tip during development, but almost always erect at flowering; sepals and petals spreading 7 Allium stellatum
 
 
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