Allium is the onion genus, with about 1,250 species, making it one of the largest plant genera in the world. Allium is classified in family Alliaceae although some botanical authorities have included it in the lily family (Liliaceae).
The true number of Allium species is unknown, and estimates vary widely. Members of the genus include many industrial crops and garden vegetables such as onions (A. cepa), shallots (A. oschaninii), leeks (A. ampelop...
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Allium is the onion genus, with about 1,250 species, making it one of the largest plant genera in the world. Allium is classified in family Alliaceae although some botanical authorities have included it in the lily family (Liliaceae).
The true number of Allium species is unknown, and estimates vary widely. Members of the genus include many industrial crops and garden vegetables such as onions (A. cepa), shallots (A. oschaninii), leeks (A. ampeloprasum), scallions (A. ascalonicum) and herbs such as garlic (A. sativum) and chives (A. schoenoprasum). They are perennial bulbous plants that produce chemical compounds (mostly cysteine sulfoxide) that give them a characteristic onion or garlic taste and odor, and many are used as food plants, though not all members of the family are equally flavorful. In most cases, both bulb and leaves are edible. Their taste may be strong or weaker depending on the species.
Allium species occur in temperate climates of the northern hemisphere, except for a...
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