LILIACEiE 



237 



Leaves cylindrical and hollow (Fig. 90). 



Plants forming a dense clump with very small bulbs, Allium schceno- 



prasum (cive or chives). 

 Plants not forming dense clumps; bulbs of considerable size. 

 Leaves short, awl-shaped; bulbs in clusters (Fig. 88), Allium ascaloni- 



cum (shallot) 

 Leaves long, rather broad; bulbs not in clusters. 



Bulbs very distinct, generally large (Fig. 14), Allium cepa (common 



onion) . 

 Bulbs not distinct, usually a mere swelling at base of plant (Fig. 88). 

 Allium fistulosum, (Welsh onion, ciboule). 



ALLIUM SATIVUM (GaiUc) 



Garlic is a perennial herb. The bulbs are composed of 

 several small, elongated, egg-shaped bulbils, called "cloves," 

 all of which are enclosed by a 

 whitish skin .(Fig. 93). There 

 are often as many as ten bulbils 

 in a single bulb. The scape is 

 from I to 2 feet high, round, 

 and possesses alternate, broad- 

 linear, sohd, flat leaves. The 

 spherical umbels bear many 

 bulblets among the small, long- 

 stemmed flowers. Seeds and 

 bulblets are borne in the same 

 head. In propagation, the bulb- 

 lets in the flower head and the 

 Fig. 93.— Bulb of garlic (Allium cloves are used more commonly 



sativum). X M- , , 



than seeds. 

 GarHc is a native of southern Europe. Both the cloves 

 and leaves are used in seasoning salads and soups, and the 

 stems are also often an ingredient of sausage and other ground 

 meats. 



