| Allium inutile | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Allioideae |
| Genus: | Allium |
| Species: | A. inutile |
| Binomial name | |
| Allium inutile Makino | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Allium inutile is a species of wild onion native to Honshu Island in Japan and to Anhui Province of southeastern China.
The scientific name translates as "useless onion" in reference to the fact that this is one of the few members of the 900-member genus Allium lacking the characteristic onion or garlic scent.
Allium inutile produces a single round to egg-shaped bulb up to 13 mm across. Scape is up to 30 cm tall, round in cross-section but with ribs along the edges. Leaves are tubular, up to 30 cm long. Umbel is rather small, with only 4-7 white flowers.
References
- Tropicos, Allium inutile
- The Plant List
- Makino, Tomitarô. 1898. Botanical Magazine (Tokyo) 12: 104-105 in English
- Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ Flora of China v 24 p 202 齿棱茎合被韭 chi leng jing he bei jiu Allium inutile
- Kitamura, Siro. 1946. Botanical Magazine (Tokyo) 59: 35
- Okuyama, Shunki, & Kitagawa, Masao. 1970. Journal of Japanese Botany 45: 123.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Allium inutile | |