Wild Allium Species in
By Dr. Ori Fragman- Sapir
Head Scientist, the Jerusalem University Botanical
Gardens
Translated by Julie Baretz
The Genus Allium is one of the largest in the world flora.
About seven hundred allium species can be found in the Northern Hemisphere, from
Europe and Asia to the shores of the Pacific Ocean in northwestern America. The genus has
several speciation centers, the most important of which are located in the
Middle East (about 250 species from Israel to Turkey and Iran) and in central
Asia (more than 200 species). In the past this genus belonged to lily
family(Liliaceae), but
with advances in systematic research the lily family has been divided and today
the Genus Allium belongs to the Alliaceae family. This family includes a number of genera,
including the famous South African Agapanthus. Allium species are
considered to be particularly difficult to define and classify. From the great
wealth of Allium species, the most well-known are the garden garlic and garden
onion, both of which were cultivated thousands of years ago as edible plants in
our region.
They probably originate in Allium ampeloprasum or similar species. In the last few decades interest has grown in
allium species as ornamentals. Numerous species have impressive
inflorescences and many can be grown quite easily.
Alliums are characterized by a tall, erect inflorescence;
umbrella-like, all of the flower stalks emerge from one point. Most allium species
have bulbs; a small number have rhizomes. Most species grow in dry areas, but others
are common in wet, humid regions. The bulb, in its role as a storage organ for
nutrients and water, enables the plant to survive during drought years and to
bloom in different seasons. Allium species bloom from the end of the
winter to the summer.
In Israel, the first to flower is Allium neapolitanum (from the end of February on the Coastal Plain) and the last to
flower is Allium ampeloprasum (in the summer until
July). A few
other interesting species that bloom late can be seen on Mount Hermon.
The allium bulb functions as a storage organ but it is also a reproductive organ. Growth buds form between the bulb scales and become bulblets. Sometimes the bulblets develop on the edges of the bulb and are exposed to the sides of the mother plant when the outer scales dry out into tunics; sometimes they develop deep within the bulb and grow with it. These will be exposed later on when the mother bulb divides into two plants: the mother plant and the bulblet that grew as a daughter plant. In certain allium species the bulblets are ‘sent’ from the mother bulb by runners (Allium truncatum). We believe that this reduces the competition between the different bulblets and between the bulblets and the mother bulb. In other species (not in Israel) the bulblets actually develop in the inflorescence. The identification characters of the different allium species are related to their foliage and inflorescences, but also to their bulbs and bulblets.
According to Dr Fania Collmann’s comprehensive work on Flora
Palaestina (1986), and to Rotem Bulletin No. 15 (1985),
no less than 39 different wild allium species grow in and around Israel. These have been
divided into sections. Not all species are appropriate for horticulture, but
several of our wild alliums have potential for development as cut flowers,
garden plants and potted plants. Rina Kaminezky’s research serves as a mile
stone in the study of the biology, potential and cultivation of the local wild
alliums, as well as of species beyond the borders of Israel. In this article I
will attempt to present local species that boast impressive flowers, in the
hopes of awakening interest in professionals and growers. Most of these
species are common plants that grow in easily accessible areas. In addition, most
are easy to grow and produce and as garden plants they require little
water. For the
purpose of collecting wild allium from nature, permits can be obtained in the
permit department of the National Parks and Nature Reserves Authority.
Section Molium
These are relatively short species with a small bulb and a pretty whitish flower. The leaves are often hairy and detached from the stalk or most of it. The leaves and stalk have a strong garlic smell when crushed. These species reproduce strongly by bulblets and can overrun agricultural areas as weeds; we know this from bad experiences with Allium neapolitanum. The bulb is shallow.
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Allium neapolitanum |
Allium neapolitanum is one of the best known species in Israel; its stalk is triangular in cross-sectioned and it reaches a height of up to 30 centimeters. This species is common in open and disturbed areas all throughout the Mediterranean region. Its flowers are pure white and it blooms from the end of February until March. Allium hirsutum is a similar species with hairy leaves that grows in scrub and maquis.
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Allium qasyunense |
Allium qasyunense and Allium negevense are very similar species; they reach a height of up to 30 centimeters with a white or whitish inflorescence. They grow on the desert margins; as species from dry regions they probably need little water.
Allium carmeli
Allium
carmeli
is the most important and the most interesting of the
species in this section. It reaches a height of 130 centimeters. Its inflorescence
is pink in the Mt Hermon and the Judaean Hills populations and white in the Mt
Carmel populations.
It flowers in May (until June in Mt Hermon). The height of its
inflorescence and its flower color make it a good potential garden plant.
Section Allium
These are mostly species with a tall stalk that blooms in late spring and summer. The species produce many bulblets. Some species have tens, if not hundreds of bulblets per plant and the mother bulb completely empties out with flowering. The leaves and stalks have a strong garlic smell when crushed. The bulb is shallow.
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Allium ampeloprasum |
Allium ampeloprasum is the best known of this section. This species has
already been tested for horticulture. It has a purplish or greenish globular
inflorescence and channeled leaves. It is extremely common along highways and
other disturbed places across the entire Mediterranean region; in Israel it is
notable for its late flowering. Allium truncatum
is a similar species with a purple inflorescence, common on steppes and
semidesert.
Allium phanerantherum is similar to A. ampeloprasum, it is common mainly to northern Israel and can be identified by its egg-shaped inflorescence and hollow leaves.
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Allium hierochuntinum |
Allium hierochuntinum is the most interesting of the
section; it is a species unique to the slopes of the Jordan Valley. It has a light blue
inflorescence and flowers in April. The flower color is rare and unusual in the
entire genus.
Allium rotundum is a species of the Golan Heights and Mt. Hermon. It is rather short
and has a dark purple inflorescence. This species is widespread in Europe and
western Asia.
Allium curtum resembles Allium
rotundum in
height; it blooms in late April, mainly on the Coastal Plain.
Section Melanocrommyum
These are springtime species with a round stalk; the leaves emerge from the bulb and their connection to the stalk is not visible above the ground. The leaves and stalk have no garlic smell when crushed. The bulb is submerged deeply in the ground.
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Allium aschersonianum |
Allium aschersonianum has been cultivated and is available on the market. This species has a dark pink inflorescence that reaches up to 100 centimeters; it flowers in March. Allium aschersonianum is scattered along eastern Samaria and Judea, southwards to the Negev Highlands.
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Allium tel-avivense |
Allium tel-avivense is a very similar species with a larger inflorescence and a
shorter stalk; it is unique to the coastal plain of Israel.
Allium nigrumis a variable species; most of the populations grow in the deep heavy soils of northern Israel. It has a whitish inflorescence. Short-stalked populations grow in the Upper Galilee; pink-flowered populations grow on the scrub margins and on Mt Carmel.
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Allium orientale |
Allium orientale is a species of dry Mediterranean areas neighboring the desert; it reaches a height of 25 centimeters and sports whitish, springtime blooms.
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Allium libani |
Allium libani grows only on Mt Hermon in Israel. The inflorescences practically sit on the
ground, but the white shiny dense inflorescence form an impressive globular
display. This species could be a
candidate for development as a container plant.
Section Kaloprasum
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Allium schubertii |
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This section has just one local species –
Allium schubertii. This is
the most impressive allium of all the species in the genus. Inflorescence diameter reaches 40 cm and the
flowers are pink and starry. This
species has been developed in the past and may be seen at European markets. Allium schubertii is a tumble weed. When
the fruits ripen, the inflorescence detaches from the ground and rolls through
the fields; this is how the seeds are distributed over broad areas far from the
mother plant. This species was common in
the past in deep soil all over Israel, but with today’s urbanization and the
development of modern agriculture, it has become extremely rare. In addition to the agricultural importance of
developing this species, it is imperative to reproduce it in order to preserve
it before it disappears in Israel.
As mentioned earlier, the wild alliums of
Israel have the potential to become new and interesting plants that can
increase the variety of our cultivated flowers.
It is important to note that hundreds of additional species grow beyond
the borders of Israel, along the Fertile Crescent, north via Syria and Lebanon
and eastwards in Turkey, Iran, the Caucasus and as far as Central Asia. These species comprise an additional source
from which suitable species may be developed for horticulture.