Field garlic facts for kids
Allium oleraceum, also known as field garlic, is a type of wild onion found across Eurasia. This plant is a perennial, meaning it lives for many years. It grows wild in dry areas and can reach about 30 centimeters (12 inches) in height. Field garlic spreads by seeds, underground bulbs, and small bulblets that grow in its flower head. This is similar to how some other wild onions reproduce. Unlike some other types, it's rare to find field garlic flower heads with only bulblets and no flowers. Its Latin name, oleraceum, means "vegetable" or "herbal."
Quick facts for kids Field garlic |
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| Allium oleraceum | |
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Synonymy
Allium complanatum Boreau
Allium intermedium G.Don Allium oleraceum var. carinatum Nyman Allium oleraceum var. latifolium W.D.J.Koch Allium oxypetalum G.Don Allium pallens var. pseudooleraceum Seregin Allium parviflorum Thuill. Allium scabrum Gilib. Allium virens Lam. Allium virescens Lam. Cepa oleracea (L.) Bernh. Codonoprasum alpicola Jord. & Fourr. Codonoprasum complanatum (Boreau) Fourr. Codonoprasum intermedium Rchb. Codonoprasum oleraceum (L.) Rchb. Codonoprasum viridiflorum Schur Porrum oleraceum (L.) Moench Raphione oleracea (L.) Salisb. |
Description
Field garlic plants usually grow to about 30 centimeters (12 inches) tall. The bulb, which is underground, can be up to 2 centimeters (0.8 inches) wide. The main stem is usually round. It has two to four leaves.
At the top of the stem, there is a cluster of small flowers. These flowers are often pinkish-brown. Sometimes, tiny bulblets also grow among the flowers. The papery leaves that surround the flowers are called bracts. These bracts often have long points that stick out above the flowers. The parts of the flower that produce pollen, called stamens, do not stick out from the flowers.
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An illustration from 1885 showing field garlic.
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A close-up photo of field garlic flowers.
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Distribution
Field garlic is found across most of Europe. It also grows in Turkey and the Caucasus region. In some places in North America, it has become naturalized. This means it grows there even though it wasn't originally from that area.
In the United Kingdom, field garlic often grows in dry, grassy areas. It prefers soils that are rich in calcium, like limestone. It can also be found on sunny banks near rivers. Field garlic is common in England. It is found less often in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. When coastal areas wear away, it reduces the places where this plant can grow. This can lead to fewer field garlic plants in those areas.
See also
In Spanish: Allium oleraceum para niños
