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Botanical Name: Allium rubellum
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Allioideae
Tribe: Allieae
Genus: Allium
Species: A. rotundum
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Asparagales
Synonyms:
*Allium ampeloprasum Thunb. 1794, illegitimate homonym not L. 1753
*Allium ampeloprasum var. paterfamilias (Boiss.) Nyman
*Allium ampeloprasum subsp. paterfamilias (Boiss.) K.Richt.
Common names: Round-headed leek, Purple-flowered garlic
Habitat : Allium rubellum is native to Europe – S.E. Russia to W. Asia. It grows on dry steppes and semi deserts. Very free draining soils and coarse sands with a low water table in Kashmir.
Description:
Allium rubellum is a BULB growing to 0.6 m (2ft).It produces large clumps of as many as 50 egg-shaped bulbs, each up to 1.5 cm long. Leaves are up to 40 cm long. Scapes are up to 90 cm tall. Umbels look round from a distance, and can contain as many as 200 flowers. It is in flower in June. Flowers are bell-shaped, up to 7 mm across; tepals purple, sometimes with white margins; anthers yellow or purple; pollen yellow or white.
The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, insects.Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Cultivation:
Prefers a sunny position in a light well-drained soil. Best grown in a cold greenhouse or bulb frame, the plant is quite hardy but requires a period of dormancy in the summer when it should not be watered. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply. Most members of this genus are intolerant of competition from other growing plants. Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.
Propagation:
Seed – sow spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle – if you want to produce clumps more quickly then put three plants in each pot. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in spring once they are growing vigorously and are large enough. Division in spring. The plants divide successfully at any time in the growing season, pot up the divisions in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing well and then plant them out into their permanent positions.
Edible Uses:.…Bulb eaten raw or cooked. Leaves – raw or cooked. The leaves are dried and preserved for use as a condiment in Europe. Flowers – raw. Used as a garnish on salads.
Medicinal Uses:
Although no specific mention of medicinal uses has been seen for this species, members of this genus are in general very healthy additions to the diet. They contain sulphur compounds (which give them their onion flavour) and when added to the diet on a regular basis they help reduce blood cholesterol levels, act as a tonic to the digestive system and also tonify the circulatory system.
Other Uses: Repellent……The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellent. The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles.
Known Hazards: Although no individual reports regarding this species have been seen, there have been cases of poisoning caused by the consumption, in large quantities and by some mammals, of certain members of this genus. Dogs seem to be particularly susceptible.
Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_rotundum
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Allium+rubellum
