ALLIUM 



THE BULB BOOK 



ALLIUM 



borders, shrubberies, rock-gardens, or 

 for naturalising in grassland that is not 

 to be cut or mown in summer. Pro- 

 pagation of any particular species is 

 effected by offsets from the older 

 bulbs ; or by seeds sown in rich 

 gritty soil in spring. 



FIG. 39. Allium, seeJliug. 



The following are amongst the 

 most ornamental kinds for the hardy 

 flower-border, viz.: 



A. acuminatum. 12 to 18 ins. high, 

 with deep rose flowers in flattish 

 heads 3 to 4 ins. across, in July and 

 August. There are several forms, 

 chiefly differing in the deeper tint of 

 the blossoms. N. America. 



A.albo-pilosum. A fine new species 

 from the East, with violet flower- 

 heads about 8 ins. across, the in- 

 dividual blossoms being about 2 ins. 

 in diameter. The leaves, about 18 

 ins. long and 1 to 2 ins. broad, have 

 white hairs scattered on the margins 



62 



and under-surface. Considered to be 

 one of the finest species. (Gard. 

 C/iron. 1903, xxxiv. 34, f.) 



A. cabulicum. This species from 

 Kabul has whitish flowers with red- 

 brown keels, borne in dense roundish 

 many-flowered umbels (Bot. Mag. t. 

 7294 ; Gard. Chron. 1893, xiii. 546.) 



A. Ellisi. A Persian species related 

 to A karataviense, having leaves, 

 about 1 ft. long and 2 ins. broad, and 

 large umbels of rosy flowers on stems 

 about 1 ft. high (Bot. Mag. t. 7875). 



A. Erdeli. A fine species from 

 Pales tine, with whitish flowers having 

 a rich crimson centre (Bot. Mag. t. 

 6426.) 



A. karataviense, 9 to 12 ins. high, 

 has broad blue-green leaves, and large 

 round heads of whitish or lilac 

 flowers. Turkestan. (Bot. Mag. t. 

 6451.) 



A. Moly. A well-known species, 

 native of S. Europe, having compact 

 umbels of bright yellow starry flowers 

 in May, June, and July. An excellent 

 species about 12 to 15 ins. high for 

 naturalising in woodland places, and 

 also for forcing into early blossom in 

 spring in the greenhouse. 



A. neapolitanum. Another well- 

 known species from S. Europe. It 

 grows about 18 ins. high, and in 

 summer has loose umbels of white 

 flowers, the green stamens of which 

 are conspicuous. Useful for early 

 forcing. 



A. nigrum grows 2 to 3 ft. high, 

 having broadly lance-shaped leaves, 

 toothed on the margins, and large 

 heads of deep violet flowers in 

 summer. S. Europe. 



A. ursinum (Fig. 40), popularly 

 known as " Eamsons," is a native of 

 the woods and hedgebanks of the 

 British Islands, but when cultivated 

 its masses of white starry flowers 

 make a fine display. Useful for 

 naturalising in the grass. 



