Allium is the onion genus, with about 1250 species, making it one of the largest plant genera in the world.
Allium is classified in family Alliaceae although some classifications have included it in the lily family (Liliaceae).
Allium species occur in temperate climates of the northern hemisphere, except for a few species occurring in Chile (as Allium juncifolium), Brazil (Allium sellovianum) or tropical Africa (Allium spathaceum).
Allium cepa, the common cooking onion, is thought to be among the first plants to be cultivated by early man. Allium sativum, better known as garlic, was prized in ancient times not only for its pungent flavor but for its medicinal qualities.
The wide use of alliums as ornamental plants, however, is a more recent phenomenon, first gaining favor about the middle of the 19th century.
Alliums are planted in the fall, October/November in moderate to cold climates and in late-November/December in warmer climates.
See all the Allium thumbnails at the PLANTS Gallery
canadense occures in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
View 107 genera in Liliaceae, 112 species in Allium, 6 varieties in AlliumcanadenseL. Classification:
Allium is the ancient Latin name for garlic and canadense is the Latin word meaning "of Canada".
Some of the other medicinal uses by settlers were for the treatment of fevers, skin problems, hemorrhoids, earaches, rheumatism, arthritis, tapeworms and other internal parasites, blood disorders and lung problems.
The physician who accompanied Lewis and Clark made note of the use of Alliumcanadense to control scurvy among the members of the exploration team.
Very easy, the plants divide successfully at any time in the growing season and the divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions if required.
This plant is also mentioned in the following PFAF articles: Allium Species - the Perennial Onions.
In it you made reference to Allium ursinum, as "wild garlic".
Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses(Site not responding. Last check: )
Allium vineale L. Cool-season perennial with slender, hollow cylindrical leaves.
Wild onion (AlliumcanadenseL.) is often found on same sites as wild garlic.
Wild onion can be distinguished from wild garlic by presence of a fibrous coat on the central bulb, no offset bulblets and leaves that arise near the base of a solid flowering stem.
It can be readily distinguished from other native onions, such as Allium stellatum (Cliff Onion) and Allium cernuum (Nodding Onion), by the presence of aerial bulbets.
There is a variety of the Wild Garlic (Alliumcanadense var.
Family: Alliaceae (Hardy bulb) Small Allium with round heads of small, sky blue flowers in early summer. 15-23cm (6-9in) Sun / loam. (20 seeds)
Family: Alliaceae (Hardy bulb) Bold Allium with large greyish leaves and heads of pale pink flowers in early summer. 15-23cm (6-9in) Sun / well drained. (15 seeds)
Family: Alliaceae (Hardy bulb) A mix of many allium in a range of sizes and colours ,white, yellow and shades of mauves, purples and pinks. Some of these will flower in first year i f sown early. Easy. 15-1.2m (6in-4ft) Sun / loam. (30+ seeds)
Smaller bulblets may form at the base of the bulbs, and fibrous roots are also attached at the bases of the bulbs.
Wild garlic is often confused with wild onion (Alliumcanadense), but the two may be easily distinguished after a closer examination of the leaf cross section.
The leaves of wild garlic are hollow and round, while those of wild onion are more flat and 'solid'.