SPECIES DESCRIPTION
ALLIUM SUBHIRSUTUM

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

Common name:- Hairy garlic

Homotypic Synonyms:- Iulus subhirsutum.

Meaning:- Allium (L) The ancient Latin name for garlic.
                  Subhirsutum (Gr) Almost hairy, hairy.

General description:- Short to medium, bulbous perennial.

Bulbs:-
1) Up to 1·5 cm in diam, subglobose, tunic membranous, not pitted.

Stems:-
1) 7-30 cm. leafless, terete.

Leaves:-
1) 3-6. sheaths hairy, at least along the margins. almost all basal, broadly-
    elongated, tapering to a point at the tip, much shorter than the stem.

Flowers:-
1) Spathe, up to 1·3 cm, 1-valved, persistent, shorter than the pedicels.
2) Umbel, 2·5-7 cm in diam,, hemispherical and lax, or fastigiate.
3) Pedicels, up to 40 mm, 3-5 times as long as the perianth-segments, irregularly
    patent.
4) Perianth, stellate.
    a) segments, 7-9 mm, white, lanceolate to oblanceolate, obtuse to acute.
5) Stamens, 1/2-2/3 as long as the perianth;
    a) filaments, 4-6 mm, subulate, simple.
    b) anthers, usually brown, occasionally yellow.

Fruit:-
1) Capsule, 3 mm.

Key features:-
1) Perianth-segments, not more than 3 mm wide, with an acute or obtuse apex.
2) Filaments, subulate above a short triangular base.
3) Pedicels, 3-5 times as long as perianth-segments.
4) Anthers, usually brown.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky and sandy habitats.

Distribution:- Widespread around the Mediterranean, but not Cyprus or parts of the
extreme E. Mediterranean. Widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton