Allium calocephalum
Wendelbo
Amaryllidaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Allium calocephalum is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from an ovoid-globose bulb around 15 - 30mm in diameter; it produces 4 - 5 leaves and a flowering stem around 30 - 67cm tall[
2258- Title
- Flora of Iraq; Volume 8, Monocotyledones
- Publication
-
- Author
- Townsend C.C. & Guest E. (Editors)
- Publisher
- Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform; Baghdad
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sold as a food in local markets. Research has suggested that the plant has medicinal potential. The outer flowers of the plant have very long, narrow tepals, giving the plant a high ornamental potential[
203- Title
- Alliums. The Ornamental Onions.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Davies. D.
- Publisher
- Batsford
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-7134-7030-5
- Description
- Covers about 200 species of Alliums. A very short section on their uses, good details of their cultivation needs.
].
Allium calocephalum has a rather limited range in western Asia and is also harvested from the wild for food. Some of its known sites have shown a decline in population. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
Although no individual reports regarding this species have been seen, there have been cases of poisoning caused by the consumption, in large quantities and by some mammals, of certain members of this genus. Dogs seem to be particularly susceptible[
76- Title
- Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Cooper. M. and Johnson. A.
- Publisher
- HMSO
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0112425291
- Description
- Concentrates mainly on the effects of poisonous plants to livestock.
].
Botanical References
2258- Title
- Flora of Iraq; Volume 8, Monocotyledones
- Publication
-
- Author
- Townsend C.C. & Guest E. (Editors)
- Publisher
- Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform; Baghdad
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
Range
W. Asia - southeast Turkey, northern Iraq
Habitat
Among oak trees and scrub in temperate mixed forest on mountain slopes; at elevations from 800 - 1,700 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
2258- Title
- Flora of Iraq; Volume 8, Monocotyledones
- Publication
-
- Author
- Townsend C.C. & Guest E. (Editors)
- Publisher
- Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform; Baghdad
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Properties
Conservation Status | Near Threatened |
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Habit | Bulb |
Height | 0.50 m |
Pollinators | Insects |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Allium calocephalum is a plant of semi-arid temperate regions. Fairly tolerant of winter cold, the plant requires summer heat and dry wintersif it is to succeed.
Species in this genus generally prefer a sunny position in a light well-drained soil[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
Edible Uses
Leaves - eaten fresh as a vegetable and also dried for winter use[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. The dried leaves are used as a flavouring in pilaf rice[
2253- Title
- The Ethnobotanical Usage of Some East Anatolian(Turkey) Allium L. Species
- Publication
- MJAL 5 (1) (2015) 80-86
- Author
- Firat M.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2015
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Medicinal
Extracts obtained from the bulb of the plant have shown antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-carcinogenic activity as well as offering a protective effect against DNA damage. Furthermore, it has been determined that the plant contains compounds with important pharmacological effects[
2252- Title
- Medicinal Properties of Allium calocephalum Collected from Gara Mountain (Iraq)
- Publication
- Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, Volume 28, No. 10, 2019, pp 7419-7426
- Author
- Mohammed F.S. et al
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2019
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Although no other specific mention of medicinal uses has been seen for this species, members of this genus are in general very healthy additions to the diet. They contain sulphur compounds (which give them their onion flavour) and when added to the diet on a regular basis they help reduce blood cholesterol levels, act as a tonic to the digestive system and also tonify the circulatory system[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
Allium species usually grow well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but they inhibit the growth of legumes[
18- Title
- Companion Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B.
- Publisher
- Watkins
- Year
- 1979
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Details of beneficial and antagonistic relationships between neighbouring plants.
,
20- Title
- Companion Planting for Successful Gardening.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Riotte. L.
- Publisher
- Garden Way, Vermont, USA.
- Year
- 1978
- ISBN
- 0-88266-064-0
- Description
- Fairly good.
,
54- Title
- How to Enjoy your Weeds.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hatfield. A. W.
- Publisher
- Frederick Muller Ltd
- Year
- 1977
- ISBN
- 0-584-10141-4
- Description
- Interesting reading.
]. They are, in general, bad companions for alfalfa - each species negatively affecting the other[
201- Title
- A - Z of Companion Planting.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allardice.P.
- Publisher
- Cassell Publishers Ltd.
- Year
- 1993
- ISBN
- 0-304-34324-2
- Description
- A well produced and very readable book.
].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[
233- Title
- Perennial Garden Plants
- Publication
-
- Author
- Thomas. G. S.
- Publisher
- J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0 460 86048 8
- Description
- A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
].
Other Uses
Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, the juice of most species in this genus (especially those with a strong onion or garlic smell) can be used as a moth repellent[
20- Title
- Companion Planting for Successful Gardening.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Riotte. L.
- Publisher
- Garden Way, Vermont, USA.
- Year
- 1978
- ISBN
- 0-88266-064-0
- Description
- Fairly good.
].
The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles[
20- Title
- Companion Planting for Successful Gardening.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Riotte. L.
- Publisher
- Garden Way, Vermont, USA.
- Year
- 1978
- ISBN
- 0-88266-064-0
- Description
- Fairly good.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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