Maltese dwarf garlic facts for kids
Allium lojaconoi, also known as the Maltese dwarf garlic, is a special type of wild garlic. It grows only in the country of Malta, which is a group of islands in the Mediterranean Sea. This means it is endemic to Malta, so you won't find it growing naturally anywhere else in the world! Scientists Salvatore Brullo, E. Lanfranco, and Pietro Pavone first officially described this plant in 1982. It is closely related to another wild garlic species called A. parciflorum, which grows in Sardinia and Corsica.
Quick facts for kids Maltese dwarf garlic |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Allium lojaconoi found at the Dingli Cliffs in Malta | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Allium
|
| Species: |
lojaconoi
|
What Does Maltese Dwarf Garlic Look Like?
The Maltese dwarf garlic is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. It grows from a bulb, similar to an onion or a regular garlic clove. This plant is very small and delicate, usually only growing to be about 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) tall.
It blooms during the summer. Its flowers grow in a loose cluster called a capitulum. Each cluster has about four to twelve flowers, and each flower has its own little stalk. The flowers are a pretty brown-purple to pink color. Each petal has a dark stripe running down its middle. Inside its cells, this plant has 16 chromosomes (2n).
Where Does Maltese Dwarf Garlic Grow?
The Maltese dwarf garlic usually grows on rocky ground, especially near the coast. You can find it on all three of Malta's main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. However, it is considered a rare plant, so it's not easy to spot!
See also
In Spanish: Allium lojaconoi para niños
