ALLIUM BRACHYSPATHUM

Family and Genus:- See- ALLIACEAE/Sect. CODONOPRASUM

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Allium (L) The ancient Latin name for garlic.

Brachyspathum (L) With a short spathe.

General description:- Bulbous perennial plants, usually smelling strongly of garlic

or onion.

Bulb:-

1) Solitary with membranous tunics.which do not extended into a neck.

Stem:-

1) 6-25 cm. slender, sheathed for up to 2/3 the leaves.

Leaves:-

1) 4-6 filiform, subcylindrical, glabrous.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, lax, fastigiate, with 5-25 flowers.

2) Spathe, valves 2, persistent, both shorter than the umbel. linear-lanceolate with

a filiform apex.

3) Flowers, campanulate. whitish-pink or pale greenish.

4) Perianth, obconical.

5) Anthers, whitish with 4 longitudinal pink-purplish stripes.

6) Ovary, conspicuously tuberculate.

Fruit:-

1) Seeds, angular.

Key features:-

1) Perianth, obconical.

2) Outer bulb, tunics not extended into a neck.

3) Both spathe valves usually shorter than the umbel.

4) Anthers, whitish with 4 longitudinal pink-purplish stripes.

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Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, calcareous slopes and flats 0-600 m

Distribution:- Recently described from Karpathos, this species has subsequently

been reported also from the small island of Koufonisi off SE Crete and may be

further distributed in the SE Aegean area. It is related to A. sipyleum, described

from W Anatolia and occurring also on Chios and perhaps elsewhere in the E

Aegean area.

Flowering time:- June - early July

Photos by:- None currently available