Allium is a flowering plant for the garden. It comprises about 1250 species, making it one of the largest plant genera in the world. Alliums are perennial bulbous plants. They produce chemical compounds that give out a smell similar to onions and garlic. Alliums grow in temperate climates in the northern hemisphere. Some species are also found in Chile (as Allium juncifolium), Brazil (Allium sellovianum) or tropical Africa (Allium spathaceum).
The allium flowers are stricking and form an umbel at the top of a leafless stalk. The bulbs can be anywhere from just t 2-3 mm in diameter to rather big ones, 8-10 cm. Most alliums propagate by forming baby bulbs or "offsets" around the old one. Some also produce seeds. Within the same genus as allium include the onions, shallots, leeks and herbs such as garlic and chives. All the members of this genus produce the strong "oniony" odor, although not not all are equally flavorful.
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Wouter Hagens
