Allium inutile is a species of wild onion native to Honshu Island in Japan and to Anhui Province of southeastern China.[3][4]

Allium inutile
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Allioideae
Genus: Allium
Species:
A. inutile
Binomial name
Allium inutile
Synonyms[1][2]

The scientific name translates as "useless onion" in reference to the fact that this is one of the few members of the 900-member genus Allium lacking the characteristic onion or garlic scent.[5]

Allium inutile produces a single round to egg-shaped bulb up to 13 mm across. Scape is up to 30 cm tall, round in cross-section but with ribs along the edges. Leaves are tubular, up to 30 cm long. Umbel is rather small, with only 4-7 white flowers.[5][6][7]

References

edit
  1. ^ Tropicos, Allium inutile
  2. ^ The Plant List
  3. ^ Makino, Tomitarô. 1898. Botanical Magazine (Tokyo) 12: 104-105 in English
  4. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  5. ^ a b Flora of China v 24 p 202 齿棱茎合被韭 chi leng jing he bei jiu Allium inutile
  6. ^ Kitamura, Siro. 1946. Botanical Magazine (Tokyo) 59: 35
  7. ^ Okuyama, Shunki, & Kitagawa, Masao. 1970. Journal of Japanese Botany 45: 123.