Allium libani explained

Allium libani (Lebanese garlic ثوم لبناني) is a species of wild bulbous plant geophyte of the genus Allium, belonging to the family of Amaryllidaceae. Allium libani is endemic to the Middle East in Lebanon and Syria.^{[1] [2]}

Taxonomy

Allium libani was described by Pierre Edmond Boissier and published in Diagnoses plantarum orientalium novarum 13: 26, in 1854.^{[3] [4]}

Etymology

Allium : old generic name. The plants of this genus were known by both the Romans as the Greeks . However, it seems that the term has an origin in Celtic which means "to burn", referring to the strong pungent smell of the plant. One of the first to use this name for botanical purposes was the French naturalist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1656 - 1708).^[5]

libani : epithet, refers to its geographic location in Lebanon.^[5]

Description

Allium libani is deciduous. The simple leaves are basal. They are broadly linear with entire margins and parallel venation. The scape characteristic of the family is essentially absent, so the umbel appears to be formed at ground level The flowers of Allium libani are white. Fruits are loculicidal capsules.^[6]

Cultivation

The plants prefer a sunny situation on dry to moderately moist soil. The substrate should be sandy-loamy, gritty-loamy or sandy clay soil. They tolerate temperatures down to -7 °C

Notes and References

1. Web site: Allium libani Boiss. (accepted name) . Catalogue of Life . 15 August 2013 . 28 August 2013.
2. Web site: Flora of Israel Online . 30 March 2014 . https://archive.today/20140330013718/http://flora.huji.ac.il/browse.asp?action=specie&specie=ALLLIB . 30 March 2014 . dead . dmy-all .
3. Web site: Allium libani Boiss. . Missouri Botanical Garden . Tropicos.org . 28 August 2013 . Missouri Botanical Garden.
4. Web site: Allium libani Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient. 13: 26 (1854). . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . World Checklist of Selected Plant Families . 28 August 2013 . Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
5. Giacomo Nicolini, Enciclopedia Botanica Motta. Volume one, Milan, Federico Motta Editore, 1960, p. 76.
6. Web site: Allium libani . rareplants.co.uk/ . 28 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140330124910/http://rareplants.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=2878&strPageHistory=related . 30 March 2014 . dead . dmy-all .