ALLIUM SUBHIRSUTUM
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.
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