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ALLIUM SATIVUM. 
This species of Allium is a hardy perennial, bulbiferou8, plant, a 
native of Sicily and the south of France, flowering in July. It has 
been long cultivated in most parts of Europe, for culinary and 
medicinal purposes. * The following species of garlic are also 
frequently cultivated in our gardens, and often preferred for culinary 
uses to the common garlic, viz : Allium Ascalonicum, Ascalonian 
garlic or shallot ; Allium Fistulosum, Cihol or Welsh onion ; 
Allium Scheenoprasnm, Give or Chive garlic ; Allium Scorodoprasum, 
Rocambole garlic ; f this last species greatly resembles the Allium 
Sativum, particularly in its manner of flowering, and the propensity 
it shews in forming bulbs instead of flowers. It is the llKopo^ov 
of the Greek writers ; the generic name Allium is supposed to have 
originated from the Greek ctvea^at, to leap forth, from the rapidity 
of its growth. 
The root of the Allium Sativum is composed of several bulbs, 
(enveloped in a common membranous covering) from the base of 
which proceed many long white fibres ; the stem rises about two 
feet in height, and is terminated by a mixed cluster of flowers and 
young bulbs inclosed in a spathe ; the leaves proceed chiefly from 
the young bulbs at the root, and are numerous, those on the stem 
are few ; in form they are linear, flat, pointed, long and grass-like ; 
the flowers are small, consisting of six oblong white petals ; there 
is no calyx ; the filaments are tapering, alternately three-cleft, shorter 
than the corolla, and furnished with oblong erect anthers; the 
germen is superior, short, angular, bearing a simple style, terminated 
by an acute pointed stigma ; the germen becomes a short, broad, 
angular, three-celled, three-valved capsule, containing several 
roundish seeds. 
Garlic is dug up for use in the autumn, when the leaves begin to 
wither, the bulbs are ,then cleaned and dried in the sun, tied in 
bunches, and preserved in a dry place. 
* First cultivated in Britain about the year 1548. 
■f* Mil d'Espagne of the French. 
