Ball-headed leek

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ball-headed leek
Allium sphaerocephalon.jpg

Ball-headed leek ( Allium sphaerocephalon )

Systematics
Order : Asparagales (Asparagales)
Family : Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae)
Subfamily : Leek family (Allioideae)
Tribe : Allieae
Genre : Leek ( allium )
Type : Ball-headed leek
Scientific name
Allium sphaerocephalon
L.

The ball-headed leek ( Allium sphaerocephalon ) is a plant of the genus allium ( Allium ) in the subfamily of the leek plants (Allioideae).

description

Onion with homorhizen roots
illustration

Vegetative characteristics

The ball-headed leek is a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 30 to 90 centimeters. This geophyte forms onions with a diameter of up to 3.5 centimeters as a persistence organ; no small onions are formed. The leaves are hollow and semi-cylindrical.

Generative characteristics

The flowering period extends from June to July. On a long inflorescence stem there is a spherical, golden inflorescence with many flowers. The mostly two (rarely only one) bracts are shorter than the inflorescence and have a long shelf life. The hermaphrodite flowers are threefold. The six identical bracts are purple in color. The six stamens protrude from the perigone .

Occurrence

The distribution area includes the Canary Islands, Europe and extends from the Mediterranean area to the Caucasus. The ball-headed leek thrives in the Pannonian flora in the colline to montane altitude . The ball-headed leek occurs in bushes, vineyards, fields, in ruderal areas , on dry and semi- dry lawns . It thrives in societies of the order Brometalia, but also occurs in societies of the Festucion valesiacae or the Sedo-Scleranthetea class.

Systematics

One can distinguish the following subspecies and varieties:

  • Allium sphaerocephalon var. Aegaeum (Heldr. & Halácsy) Hayek : It occurs on the islands of the Aegean. The number of chromosomes is 2n = 16.
  • Allium sphaerocephalon subsp. arvense (cast.) Arcang. : It occurs in Sicily and Malta, in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, on the Balkan Peninsula and from Greece to southern Turkey. The number of chromosomes is 2n = 16.
  • Allium sphaerocephalon subsp. laxiflorum (cast.) Giardina & Raimondo : It occurs in Sicily.
  • Allium sphaerocephalon subsp. sphaerocephalon : It occurs in the Canary Islands, in Europe and from the Mediterranean region to the Caucasus. The number of chromosomes is 2n = 16.
  • Allium sphaerocephalon subsp. trachypus (Boiss. & Spruner) K. Richt . : It occurs in Greece, in the Aegean Sea and in southwestern Turkey.

use

The ball-headed leek is widely used as an ornamental plant in borders and rock gardens and as a cut flower . He's been in culture since the 20th century .

The leaves and onions as a substitute for kitchen onions can be eaten raw or cooked. The flowers can be eaten raw and serve as a decoration for salads.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g Rafaël Govaerts (Ed.): Allium - data sheet at World Checklist of Selected Plant Families of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Last accessed on September 23, 2016.
  2. ^ Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . 8th edition. Stuttgart, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, 2001. ISBN 3-8001-3131-5
  3. ↑ a b c Allium sphaerocephalon at Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, accessed September 23, 2016.
  4. ^ Allium sphaerocephalon at Plants For A Future

Web links

Commons : Ball-headed Leek ( Allium sphaerocephalon )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files