Allium talyschense facts for kids

Allium talyschense is a very rare type of wild onion. It grows naturally only in a small part of Armenia, a country in the South Transcaucasia region. This special plant is critically endangered, meaning it's at a very high risk of disappearing forever. You can find it near the villages of Gnishik, Khachik, and Talish. Sadly, there are no special plans right now to protect this unique onion.

What is Allium talyschense?

This wild onion has a stem that can grow between 10 and 30 centimeters tall. Its stem can be white or a bit purplish. It also has flat leaves. If you were to smell it, you would notice it smells a lot like garlic or leeks! A. talyschense is a perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It grows from a bulb, much like the onions you might eat.

This plant likes to grow in high places. You can find it in the subalpine belt, which is an area just below the tree line in mountains. It grows at altitudes of 2,200 to 2,400 meters above sea level.

Where Does Allium talyschense Live?

Allium talyschense is very rare. Scientists know of only one group of these plants living in Armenia. Because there are so few of them, they are very vulnerable. The main place where these plants live is shrinking. This makes it even harder for them to survive and grow.

This plant was not included in the very first "Red Data Book" of Armenia. A Red Data Book lists plants and animals that are in danger of extinction.