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Useful Temperate Plants

Allium calocephalum

Wendelbo

Amaryllidaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

No Image.

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 StatusNear Threatened
Edibility Rating *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *
HabitBulb
Height0.50 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

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 -
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-11-25. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Allium+calocephalum>

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