Common Name:

General Information

Allium notabile is a perennial plant growing from an ovoid bulb around 10 - 15mm in diameter; it produces 3 - 5 leaves and a flowering stem around 37 - 75cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Allium notabile was first described in 1971, but then was not recorded until its rediscovery in 2013. The exact status of the plant is uncertain; pessimistically, if the 4 sites currently know are the only sites where the plant grows, then there could be not much more than 100 plants in total and the species would be deemed 'Critically Endangered'. On a more optimistic note, it is reasonable to suppose that the range of the plant extends into southwestern Iran and southeastern Turkey, that more sites do exist and that the overall population is higher. Given the uncertainty, the plant is classified as 'Data Deficient' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

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

W. Asia - northern Iraq

Habitat

Rocky mountainsides in Pine and Oak forests, dry, rocky grasslands; at elevations around 900 - 1,100 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Data Deficient
Edibility Rating
Habit	Bulb
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Allium notabile
Species in this genus generally prefer a sunny position in a light well-drained soil[].

Edible Uses

Used as a vegetable or cooked with rice. The plant is potentially edible and is most probably collected in a mix with several other related, traditionally harvested species including Allium rotundum[].

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 -