Purple onion Granat-Kugellauch | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
Subfamily: | Allioideae |
Genus: | Allium |
Subgenus: | Allium subg. Melanocrommyum |
Species: | A. atropurpureum
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Binomial name | |
Allium atropurpureum | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Allium nigrum var. atropurpureum (Waldst. & Kit.) Vis. |
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]
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]
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]
It is native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia. [1] [11]
It is found in Asia, within Turkey; in Europe, it is found within Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania. [11]
It prefers to grow on cultivated ground and in dry open spaces. [12]
A popular bulb sold by many nurseries is Allium 'Firmament', which was developed by breeder J. Bijl in 1971 from a cross between Allium atropurpureum and Allium cristophii. [13]