356 



V/EEDS AXD USEFUL PLANTS. 



the middle, much longer than the leaves ; leaves subterete, fistular, 

 somewhat ventricose ; umbel globose, usually capsule-bearing ; spathe 

 1- or finally 2-valved, with a short acumination. 

 Onion. Garden Onion. 



Ft. Oignon. Germ. Die Zwiebel. Span. Cebolla. 



Bulb depressed or turnip-shaped, large (2-3 inches in horizontal diameter). Scape 2-3 

 feet high, terete, often an inch or more in diameter in the most ventricose portion, smooth, 

 glaucous. Leaves 6 inches to a foot or more in length. Umbd 2-3 inches in diameter — the 

 pedicels fihform. Spathe greenish-white. Sepals lance-oblong, white with a green keel. 

 Outer stamens about as long as the calyx, spreading — the inner ones nearly twice as long, 

 erect ; filaments white, the 3 inner ones much dilated at base, obscurely toothed. 



Gardens and fields : cultivated. Native country unknown. Fl. July. lY. September. 



Obs. This species — universally known and cultivated, as a culinary 

 vegetable — is by far the most valuable of the genus. The culture is car- 

 ried to a great extent in some favorable localities, — as at Wethersfield, 

 Connecticut. There is a variety with bulb-bearing umbels, or heads, 

 sometimes to be seen in gardens. The expressed juice of the Onion is a 

 popular remedy for the croup, in children. Its stimulating quality is 

 thus playfully alluded to, by Shakspeare, in the Taming of the Shrew : 



" And if the boy have not a woman's gift, 

 To rain a shower of commanded tears, 

 An Onion will do well for such a shift ; 

 Which in a napkin being close conveyed, 

 Shall in despite enforce a watery eye." 



* * Umbel hearing only Jlowers and capsules. 

 f Leaves flat. 



4. A. Por'rum, L. Scape rising from the centre of a simple bulb, terete, 

 leafy to the middle ; leaves broad, somewhat channelled or folded, and 

 keeled, acute ; umbel globose ; sepals with a rough keel ; stamens a lit- 

 tle exserted. 



Leek Allium. Leek. Garden Leek. 



Fr. Porreau. Germ. Gemeiner Lauch. Span. Puerro. 



Bulb middle-sized. 2-3 feet high, stout and sohd. Leaves distichously arranged 



on the lower half of the scape, 6-12 inches long, and about an inch wide at base, with the 

 margin sometimes ciliate. ^ai/ie with a long acumination. Umbel glohose, dense, rather 

 large (2 inches or more in diameter) : pedicels of the flowers clavate. Calyx pale violet- 

 purple. Filaments white. 



Gardens : cultivated. Native of Europe. Fl. Jnly. JV. September. 



Obs. This species— which is regarded as a sort of national emblem 

 by the Welsh, is thus noticed by the poet. Gay : 



" Leek to the Welsh, to Dutchmen butter 's dear, 

 Of IrL^h swains potato is the cheer ; 

 Oats for their feasts the Scottish shepherds grind." 



Cultivated for use in soups. 



f f Leaves terete, hollow. 



