Herb with flattened-spherical bulbs. Leaves up to 10, linear, basal or sheathing, shorter than stem, d-shaped. Inflorescence to 1 m, stem hollow, spathes 3. Flowers numerous, bulbils often present, 3-4.5 mm long, star-shaped; summer. Tepals white with green midveins, spreading. Stamens longer than tepals, free. [A. ascalonicum, a name of uncertain application]
Not known outside cultivation but probably derived from plants native to western Asia.
One of the world's most widely cultivated vegetables. Grown in full sun.
Aggregatum Group: Bulbs clustered, bulbils lacking in the inflorescences (onions, spring onions, shallots).
CEPA GROUP: Single bulbs with no bulbils in the inflorescence, usually grown from seed.
Proliferum Group: Bulbils numerous in the inflorescences (tree onions).
Source: (2005). Alliaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.