Common Name: Few-Flowered Leek

General Information

Allium paradoxum is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing a single leaf up to 33cm long and a flowering scape 15 - 30cm tall from a globose bulb up to 10mm in diameter. In reasonable conditions the plant can spread freely by division, self-sowing and (subspecies paradoxum) by bulbils to form large colonies.
The plant is widely harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is sold as a food in local markets in Iran and is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens.
The sub-species Allium paradoxum normale does not form bulbils. It produces a large umbel of flowers in the spring and is very ornamental at this time. It is not invasive[, ]. The second subspecies, Allium paradoxum paradoxum produces mainly bulbils instead of flowers, this form is naturalized in many parts of Europe where it has become a weed and can spread quite invasively[].

Known Hazards

Although no individual reports regarding this species have been seen, there have been cases of poisoning caused by the consumption, in very large quantities and by some mammals, of certain members of this genus. Dogs seem to be particularly susceptible[].

Botanical References

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Range

W. Asia - Caucasus, Iran, Turkmenistan

Habitat

Hedge banks and waste places on damp soils[, ]. Shady places in forests[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Bulb
Height	0.25 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Allium paradoxum is not very hardy outside the milder areas of the temperate zone, it can tolerate temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[].
Prefers a rich moist but well-drained soil[, ]. Plants grow well in a heavy wet clay soil in north-west England, where they are self-sowing[]. Plants are shade tolerant[], they are easily grown in a cool leafy soil[] and grow well in light moist woodland[].
The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply[].
A notably odorous plant with a strong garlic-like aroma[].
The seeds have an oil-bearing appendage which is attractive to ants. The ants carry the seed away to eat the oil and then discard the seed, thus aiding dispersal of the plant[].
The picked flowers can remain fresh for several weeks[].

Edible Uses

Bulb - raw or cooked. The rather small bulb is up to 15mm in diameter[, , ], it has a mild garlic flavour and can be used as a flavouring in salads and cooked foods. It is harvested in early summer when the plant has died down and will store for at least 6 months[].

Leaves - raw or cooked[]. A leek substitute[]. The leaves are available from late autumn until the spring, they are nice in salads when they are young, or cooked as a vegetable or flavouring as they get older[]. The leaves have a milder and more delicate flavour than onions[].

Flowers - raw. Juicy with a mild garlic flavour, they make a tasty and decorative garnish on salads[].

Medicinal

Fresh juice from the leaves and bulbs, mixed with sugar, is used for the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract[]. According to Armenian medieval healers onion improves vision, onion juice prevents the development of cataracts in the early stages[].
Fresh or cooked onions are applied topically to treat certain skin diseases, especially abrasions and sores)[].

A tincture of the plant has antimicrobial properties and is used in the treatment of atherosclerosis, colitis, and diarrhoea. Alcohol tinctures regulate blood pressure improve the elasticity of capillaries[].

Although no further 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 - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse or cold frame. It germinates quickly and can be grown on in the greenhouse for the first year, planting out the dormant bulbs in the late summer of the following year if they have developed sufficiently, otherwise grow on in pots for a further year. Stored seed can be sown in spring in a greenhouse.
Bulbils, harvested in mid to late spring, can either be planted immediately or be stored and then planted in late summer.
Division in summer after the plants have died down. Very easy, the bulbs divide fairly freely and can be dug up then replanted direct into their permanent positions if required.