Allium atropurpureum explained

Allium atropurpureum is a plant species native to Hungary, the Balkans, and Turkey.^[1] It is widely grown as an ornamental for its rich, deep purple flowers.^{[2] [3]}

Description

Allium atropurpureum grows from a spherical to egg-shaped bulb. Its scape is up to 100cm (00inches) tall. The green,^[4] leaves are broadly linear, up to 7 mm across, tapering at the tip. It blooms in late spring and early summer,^[4] the umbel is hemispherical, with many dark purple flowers. Ovary is very dark purple, almost black.^{[5] [6]} It has a strong onion or garlic scent.^[4]

Taxonomy

It was published and described by Franz de Paula Adam von Waldstein and Pál Kitaibel in 'Descr. Icon. Pl. Hung.' Vol.1 on page 16, in 1800.^{[5] [7] [8]}

The specific epithet atropurpureum, refers to the Latin term of 'deep purple, blackish-purple',^[9] referring to the flower colour.

The species formerly included; Allium atropurpureum var. hirtulum Regel, which was coined in 1875,^[10] referring to a Central Asian plant, now known as Allium stipitatum Regel.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia.^{[1] [11]}

Range

It is found in Asia, within Turkey; in Europe, it is found within Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania.^[11]

Habitat

It prefers to grow on cultivated ground and in dry open spaces.^[12]

Cultivars

A popular bulb sold by many nurseries is Allium 'Firmament', which was developed by breeder J. Bijl in 1971 from a cross between Allium atropurpureum and Allium cristophii.^[13]

Notes and References

1. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do;jsessionid=2AB1439588042139DAD04CC80F76A3A5?name_id=295072 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
2. Visiani, Roberto de. 1842. Flora Dalmatica 1: 136.
3. Bailey, L.H. & E.Z. Bailey. 1976. Hortus Third i–xiv, 1–1290. MacMillan, New York.
4. Web site: Allium atropurpureum. rhs.org.uk. 20 November 2017.
5. Waldstein, Franz de Paula Adam von & Pál Kitaibel. 1800. Descriptiones et icones plantarum rariorum Hungariae 1: 16.
6. Web site: Őzhatay, Neriman Fatma & Ilker Genç 2013. Allium cyrilli complex (sect. Melanocrommyum) in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Botany 37:39.45. . 2014-03-28 . 2014-03-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140328220432/http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/botany/issues/bot-13-37-1/bot-37-1-4-1110-7.pdf . dead .
7. Web site: Allium atropurpureum Waldst. & Kit. is an accepted name. 23 March 2012. plantlist.org. 20 November 2017.
8. Web site: Alliaceae Allium atropurpureum Waldst. & Kit.. ipni.org. 20 November 2017.
9. Allen J. Coombes
10. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15950172#page/419/mode/1up Regel, Eduard August von 1875. Trudy Imperatorskago S.-Peterburgskago Botaničeskago Sada 3(2): 248
11. Web site: Taxon: Allium atropurpureum Waldst. & Kit.. ars-grin.gov. 20 November 2017.
12. Web site: Allium atropurpureum. pacificbulbsociety.org. 20 November 2017.
13. Web site: Bourne. Val. How to grow alliums. 25 September 2013. saga.co.uk. 20 November 2017.