LILIACE^ 



237 



Leaves cylindrical and hollow (Fig. 90). 



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



prasiim (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 fislulosum, (Welsh onion, ciboule). 



ALLIUM SATIVUM (Garlic) 



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, soUd, 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 

 cloves are used more commonly 

 than seeds. 



Garlic 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. 



Fig. 93. — Bulb of garlic CAllium 

 sativum). X M- 



