ALLIUM TRIFOLIATUM

Family:- ALLIACEAE/Sect. MOLIUM

Common name:- None

Synonyms:- Allium subhirsutum var. trifoliatum, Allium subhirsutum subsp.

trifoliatum, Allium subhirsutum proles trifoliatum, Allium subhirsutum var.

trifoliatum.

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

Trifoliatum (L) With three leaves.

General description:- Short to medium, bulbous perennial, smelling strongly of

onion or garlic when crushed.

Bulbs:-

a) Up to 1·2 cm in diam.

b) subglobose; outer tunic membranous, not pitted.

Stems:-

a) 15-45 cm.

b) round in section (terete).

Leaves:-

a) 2-3, 5-60 cm x 2-15 mm

b) almost basal, linear, sparsely hairy.

Flowers:-

1) Spathe:

a) up to 2 cm,

b) 1-valved persistent.

2) Umbel:

a) 2·5-4 cm in diam.

b) erect and closely parallel, ‘bundled’, and coming from a common point

(fastigiate).

3) Stems:

a) up to 20 mm,

b) 1½-3 times as long as the perianth-segments.

4) Perianth:

a) star-shaped (stellate); segments.

5) Perianth segments:

a) 7-10 mm.

b) white, tinged with pink or with a pink vein, often reddening with age.

c) lanceolate, acute.

6) Stamens:

a) ½ as long as the perianth.

b) filaments 4-5 mm, awl-shaped (subulate), simple.

c) anthers yellowish.

Fruit:- Capsule 4-5 mm.

Key features:-

1) Pedicels 1½-3 times as long as the perianth-segments.

2) Anthers yellowish.

Habitat:- Seasonally damp places in coastal habitats, terraced fields, olive groves

0-500 m.

Distribution:- Mediterranean region from SE. France to S. Anatolia, Fairly

widespread and scattered on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton