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