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Few Flowered Garlic facts for kids

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Few Flowered Garlic
Scientific classification
Synonyms
  • Allium moschatum Moris, 1827, illegitimate homonym not L. 1753
  • Allium pauciflorum Gren. & Godr.

Allium parciflorum is a special kind of plant, also known as the Few Flowered Garlic. It's a type of wild onion. You can only find this plant growing on two islands in the Mediterranean: Corsica and Sardinia. It grows well all over these islands, from the beaches to the mountains. But you won't find it anywhere else in the world!

What Does Few Flowered Garlic Look Like?

This unique plant has a few interesting features. It grows from bulbs that are shaped like small eggs, hidden underground.

Stems and Leaves

The main stem of the plant, called a scape, can grow up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) tall. It's round and stands straight up. The leaves are thin and look like tubes. They are usually about the same length as the stem. However, a cool fact about these leaves is that they dry up and disappear before the plant even starts to flower!

Flowers and Colors

When Allium parciflorum blooms, its flowers grow in a cluster called an umbel. This means many small flowers grow from a single point, like the spokes of an umbrella. Each flower is shaped like a tiny bell. The petals, which are called tepals in this type of plant, can be white or a light purple color. They also have clear, dark purple lines running down the middle, which makes them look very pretty.

Where Does It Grow?

As we mentioned, Allium parciflorum is only found on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia. This means it is endemic to these two places. When a plant or animal is endemic, it means it naturally lives in only one specific area and nowhere else. This makes Allium parciflorum a very special part of the plant life on these islands.

Family Connections

Allium parciflorum has a close relative called Allium lojaconoi. This plant is also endemic, but it only grows on the island of Malta. It's interesting how these two similar plants grow on different islands in the same sea!

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Few Flowered Garlic Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.