SPECIES DESCRIPTION
ALLIUM ROTUNDUM
Family and Genus:- ALLIACEAE/Sect. ALLIUM
Common Name:- None
Homotypic Synonyms:- Allium scorodoprasum subsp. rotundum, Porrum
rotundum.
Meaning:- Allium (L) The ancient Latin name for garlic.
Rotundum (L) Plump, round, circular or spherical.
General description:- Very variable medium to tall bulbous perennial, smelling
strongly of onion or garlic when crushed, to 1.5 m.
Bulb:-
1) Ovoid to globose.
2) Outer tunics ± fibrous, dark brown or brownish-red.
3) Stipitate bulblets usually present.
Leaves:-
1) 2-6, sheathing the lower half of the stem, flat, -7 mm wide, scabridulous on the
margins.
Flowers:-
1) Umbel, spherical, 2-4.5 cm wide, without bulbils. all pedicels <20 mm.
2) Spathe, caduceus.
3) Perianth, 4.5-6 mm. ovoid-campanulate.
3) Perianth segments.
a) outer, dark reddish-purple, surface scabrid on the back.
b) inner, paler.
4) Stamens. usually included.
a) inner filaments 3-cuspidate.
Key features:-
1) Umbel, 2-4.5cm diam.
2) All pedicels, <20 mm.
3) Stamens, much shorter than the perianth
Habitat:- In semi-natural montane habitats at 400-1500 m. sometimes also in
vineyards, olive groves etc., at low altitudes
Distribution:- Scattered throughout the Mediterranean area eastwards to
Caucasus and NW. Iran. Rare on Crete currently known only from the Lassithi
Plateau.
Flowering time:- May-July.
Photos by:- Steve Lenton
