ii4S GARLIC. 



Stem or floral peduncle is simple, cylindrical, smooth, about 

 eighteen inches in height, with numerous long, flat, lanceolate 

 leaves towards the base, fewer and shorter upwards. The 

 flowers, arranged in a clustered umbel at the summit of the stem, 

 are enveloped previous to expansion by a membranous spathe. 

 The periantli is single and composed of six, white, ovate-oblong, 

 spreading pieces. The stamens are six, alternately enlarged 

 and three pointed, shorter than the corolla, and furnished with 

 roundish anthers. The germen is superior, short, angular, and 

 supports a simple style, terminated by an acute stigma. The 

 capsule is short, broad, three-sided, three-valved, and three- 

 celled, containing numerous roundish, dark-coloured seeds. 

 Plate 20, fig. 4, (a) flower ; (b) perianth, opened to show the sta- 

 mens ; (c) one of the alternate three-pointed stamens ; {d) pistil. 



This plant grows spontaneously in Egypt, Sicily, and Greece, 

 and was first cultivated in the English garden about the year 

 1540. It flowers in July. 



The generic name is probably taken from ayXi^tcc or ctyXi^sg, 

 the terms by which the Greeks designated the cloves of^ garlic. 

 According to Theis it is derived from the Celtic all, which signi- 

 fies hot, huming. 



The genus is extensive, comprising among others the great 

 round-headed Garlic {A. Ampelojirasum) naturalized in England ; 

 the Leek [A. Porrum) ; Homer's Moly {A. magicum) ; the 

 Rocambole {A. Scorodoprasum) ; Shallot (A. ascalonicum) ; 

 Chives {A. SchcenoprasmiTt) ; Common Onion (^A. Cepa) ; and 

 Ramsons, {^A. ursinum) which is frequent in woods in this 

 country, flowering in May and June. 



Qualities and general Uses. — Garlic has been noted for its 

 cnlinai-y uses from the remotest antiquity. The Egyptians 

 were very fond of this vegetable, and were commonly reproached 

 for swearing by the Garlic and onions in their gardens ; an ab- 

 surdity noticed by Pliny *, and by the keen satirist Juvenal f. 



* " Allium cepasque inter Deos in jure jurando habet ^gyptus." — Hist, 

 lib. xix. Co C. 



-f " Quis nescit Volusi Bythinice, qualia demens 

 Jilgyptus portenta colit. 



Porrum et cepe nefas violare aut (Vangere morsu ; 

 O sanctas gentes quibus liwc nascuntui in hortis 

 Numina !"— Sat. xv. v. 9. 



