Allium atropurpureum

Allium atropurpureum is a plant species native to Hungary, the Balkans, and Turkey.[1] It is widely grown as an ornamental for its rich, deep purple flowers.[2][3]

Purple onion
Granat-Kugellauch
Лук тёмно-пурпуровый
Allium atropurpureum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Allioideae
Genus: Allium
Species:
A. atropurpureum
Binomial name
Allium atropurpureum
Synonyms[1]

Allium nigrum var. atropurpureum (Waldst. & Kit.) Vis.

Description

Allium atropurpureum grows from a spherical to egg-shaped bulb. Its scape is up to 100 cm (39 in) tall. The green,[4] leaves are broadly linear, up to 7 mm across, tapering at the tip.[5] It blooms in late spring and early summer,[4] the umbel is hemispherical, with many dark purple flowers. Ovary is very dark purple, almost black.[5][6] It has a strong onion or garlic scent.[4]

Taxonomy

It was published and described by Franz de Paula Adam von Waldstein and Pál Kitaibel in 'Descr. Icon. Pl. Hung.' Vol.1 on page 16, in 1800.[5][7][8]

The specific epithet atropurpureum, refers to the Latin term of 'deep purple, blackish-purple',[9] referring to the flower colour.

The species formerly included; Allium atropurpureum var. hirtulum Regel, which was coined in 1875,[10] referring to a Central Asian plant, now known as Allium stipitatum Regel.[1]

Distribution and habitat

It is native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia.[1][11]

Range

It is found in Asia, within Turkey and in Europe, it is found within Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia and Romania.[11]

Habitat

It prefers to grow on cultivated ground and in dry open spaces.[12]

Cultivars

A popular bulb sold by many nurseries is Allium ‘Firmament’, this was developed by breeder (A. Langedijk) from a cross between Allium atropurpureum and Allium cristophii.[13]

References

  1. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. Visiani, Roberto de. 1842. Flora Dalmatica 1: 136.
  3. Bailey, L.H. & E.Z. Bailey. 1976. Hortus Third i–xiv, 1–1290. MacMillan, New York.
  4. "Allium atropurpureum". rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  5. Waldstein, Franz de Paula Adam von & Pál Kitaibel. 1800. Descriptiones et icones plantarum rariorum Hungariae 1: 16.
  6. Őzhatay, Neriman Fatma & Ilker Genç 2013. Allium cyrilli complex (sect. Melanocrommyum ) in Turkey. Turkish Journal of Botany 37:39.45.
  7. "Allium atropurpureum Waldst. & Kit. is an accepted name". 23 March 2012. plantlist.org. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  8. "Alliaceae Allium atropurpureum Waldst. & Kit". ipni.org. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  9. Allen J. Coombes The A to Z of Plant Names: A Quick Reference Guide to 4000 Garden Plants, p. 37, at Google Books
  10. Regel, Eduard August von 1875. Trudy Imperatorskago S.-Peterburgskago Botaničeskago Sada 3(2): 248 in German,
  11. "Taxon: Allium atropurpureum Waldst. & Kit". ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  12. "Allium atropurpureum". pacificbulbsociety.org. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  13. Bourne, Val (25 September 2013). "How to grow alliums". saga.co.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
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