Common Name:

General Information

Allium monanthum is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing one or two leaves 5 - 10cm long long and a flowering scape 5 - 10cm tall from a solitary, globose bulb 4 - 11mm in diameter[, ]. The bulb produces rhizomes around 3 - 10cm long terminated with one or more small bulbs that can themselves produce rhizomes. The plant thus forming clumps[]
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

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[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Russian Far East (Primorye), northern China, Japan, Korea.

Habitat

Woods and thickets on hills and lower mountains all over Japan[]. Grassy mountain slopes and woods[]. In shaded broad-leaved forests and lowlands[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Bulb
Height	0.10 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Allium monanthum
Prefers a sunny position in a light well-drained soil[]. This species might succeed in light woodland[].
The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply[]. Most members of this genus are intolerant of competition from other plants[].
Allium monanthum is a typical spring ephemeral, appearing above ground for only 2 - 3 weeks in the spring before canopy closure caused by the leafing-out of deciduous forests[].
This species is unusual in the genus for mainly having dioecious flowers, though hermaphrodite flowers occur very occasionally[, ]. This means that both male and female forms usually need to be grown in order for fertilization to take place[].
Although a good number of wild populations are still recorded in north-eastern Asia, including Korea and north-eastern China, sympatric populations of both male and female individuals are exceedingly rare (in the case of Japan, only three
populations are known to date), and thus the maintenance of populations is exclusively dependent on asexual reproduction by means of bulbel formation[].

Edible Uses

Bulb - raw or cooked. The bulb is up to 1cm in diameter[].

Leaves - raw or cooked[].

Flowers - raw. Used as a garnish on salads.

Medicinal

Although no 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[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Allium species usually grow well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but they inhibit the growth of legumes[, , ]. They are, in general, bad companions for alfalfa - each species negatively affecting the other[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

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[].
The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle - if you want to produce clumps more quickly then put three plants in each pot. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in spring once they are growing vigorously and are large enough.
Division in spring. The plants divide successfully at any time in the growing season, pot up the divisions in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing well and then plant them out into their permanent positions.