ALLIUM CUPANI

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

Common Name:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Allium cupani f. typicum. Allium cupani var.

typicum.

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

Cupani (L) Presumably named after collector. (1657-1710), a monk

and naturalist who published on the flora of Sicily.

General description:- Very variable medium to tall bulbous perennial.

Bulb:-

1) 0·7-1·5 cm. diam. narrowly ovoid, outer tunics reticulately fibrous.

Stem:-

1) 9-30 cm.

Leaves:-

1) 3-5, up to 80 x 0·4 mm, sheathing the lower 1/3-3/4 of the stem, glabrous or

pubescent, filiform.

Flowers:-

1) Spathe, 1·5-2 cm, 1-valved, tubular at the base, persistent.

2) Umbel, fastigiate, with 3-15 flowers.

3) Pedicels, up to 40 mm, very unequal.

3) Perianth, cylindrical.

4) Perianth segments, 5·5-9 x 1·5-2 mm, whitish or pink, narrowly oblong, acute to

obtuse.

5) Stamens, included.

a) filaments, c. 5 mm, simple.

b) anthers, yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 4 mm.

Key features:-

1) Leaves, sheathing lower 1/2-2/3 of stem.

2) Perianth segments, lanceolate, acute or obtuse.

3) Spathe, 1-valved, entire.

4) Outer tunic, fibrous.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, scrubland vegetation and dry meadows. 0-

1200 m.

Distribution:- Widespread in Greece and the Aegean area, but rare in the west

and lacking on the Ionian Islands. Fairly rare on Crete, known from a few locations

along the S coast and the far northeast.

Flowering time:- Late Apr-July

Photos by:- Stavros Apostolou and Manolis Afrathianakis