Allium paradoxum
Few-Flowered Leek
a member of the Allium genus in the family Alliaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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[12].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Bulb - raw or cooked. The rather small bulb is up to 10mm in diameter[5], 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[K]. Leaves - raw or cooked. A leek substitute[K]. 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[K]. The leaves have a milder and more delicate flavour than onions[K]. Flowers - raw. Juicy with a mild garlic flavour, they make a tasty and decorative garnish on salads[K].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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[K].
- Product or use
- Anticholesterolemic
- Product or use
- Digestive
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellent. The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles[4].
- Product or use
- Repellent
Environment
- Range
- W. Asia - Iran. Naturalized in a number of places in Britain[2].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- permanent shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a rich moist but well-drained soil[1][10]. Plants grow well in a heavy wet clay soil in north-west England, where they are self-sowing[7]. Plants are shade tolerant[9], they are easily grown in a cool leafy soil[14] and grow well in light moist woodland[7]. Plants are not very hardy outside the milder areas of Britain, they tolerate temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[5]. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply[1]. There are two forms of this species. The sub-species A. paradoxum paradoxum produces mainly bulbils instead of flowers, this form is naturalized in Britain and can spread quite invasively[K]. The sub-species A. 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[200, K]. 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[7]. Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes[3][4][11]. This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other[6]. The picked flowers can remain fresh for several weeks[13]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[8].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00
Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2
Davies. D. Alliums. The Ornamental Onions. Batsford 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7134-7030-5
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.
Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00
Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4
Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291
Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1
Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1