Allium macrostemon explained

Allium macrostemon (野蒜, ノビル), Chinese garlic, Japanese garlic or long-stamen onion, is a species of wild onion widespread across much of East Asia. It is known from many parts of China, as well as Japan (incl Ryukyu Islands), Korea, Mongolia, Tibet and Primorye. It has been collected from elevations ranging from sea level to 3000 m.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]}

Allium macrostemon produces one round bulb up to 2 cm in diameter. Scape is up to 70 cm tall. Leaves are shorter than the scape, long and hollow, round or triangular in cross-section. Umbel is large and crowded with many pale red or pale purple flowers.^{[1] [6] [7]}

Allium macrostemon is mentioned in Huangdi Neijing as one of the five consumable herbs (五菜) which included mallow (Malva verticillata) (葵), pea leaves (藿), Welsh onion (蔥) and garlic chives (韭).

Notes and References

1. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027501 Flora of China v 24 p 199薤白 xie bai Allium macrostemon
2. Kharkevich, S.S. (ed.) (1987). Plantae Vasculares Orientalis Extremi Sovietici 2: 1-448. Nauka, Leningrad.
3. Lee, W.T. (1996). Lineamenta Florae Koreae: 1-1688. Soul T'ukpyolsi: Ak'ademi Sojok.
4. Grubov, V.I. (2001). Key to the Vascular Plants of Mongolia 1: 1-411. Science Publishers, Inc. Enfield, USA. Plymouth, U.K.
5. Choi, H.J. & Oh, B.U. (2011). A partial revision of Allium (Amaryllidaceae) in Korea and north-eastern China. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 167: 153-211.
6. Bunge, Alexander Andrejewitsch. 1833. Enumeratio Plantarum, quas in China Boreali 65–66.
7. http://www.tropicos.org/Image/17843 line drawing of Allium macrostemon, Flora of China Illustrations vol. 24, fig. 225, 8