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Allium polyrhizum

Turcz. ex Regel

Taan

Amaryllidaceae Edible: Leaves, Flowers, Vegetable, Flavouring 250 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Pyak Andrei, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

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Allium polyrhizum is a species of wild onion widespread across Zabaykalsky Krai, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China (Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Xinjiang) at elevations 1000–3700 m. Allium polyrhizum produces clumps of many narrowly cylindrical bulbs, each generally less than 10 cm in diameter. Scape is up to 30 cm long, round in cross-section. Leaves are tubular, less than 1 cm across, shorter than the scape. Umbel is hemispheric with many densely packed flowers. Tepals are usually pink or purple but occasionally white, either way with a green midvein.

Description

An onion family herb. There is a dense cluster of bulbs. They are cylinder shaped and 1 cm across. The leaves are 1 mm wide. The stalk is 7-30 cm long. The flower head has many flowers. They are purple to red.

Edible Uses

The leaves and flowers are used as a vegetable and flavouring.

Traditional Uses

The leaves and flowers are used as a vegetable and a flavouring.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in Inner Mongolia. It grows on sunny slopes and salty or alkaline soils and desert steppes between 1,000-3,700 m above sea level in north China.

Where It Grows

Asia, Central Asia, China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia,

Other Information

It was occasionally used as a seasoning.

Notes

They have also been put in the family Alliaceae.

Synonyms

Allium polyrhizum var. prezewalskii Regel

References (4)

  • Khasbagan, Hu-Yin Huai, and Sheng-Ji pei, 2000, Wild Plants in the Diet of Athorchin Mongol Herdsmen in Inner Mongolia. Economic Botany 54(4): 528-536
  • Khasbagan, Yeruhan and Zhao Hui, 2011, Study on Traditional Knowledge of Wild Edible Plants Used by the Mongolians in Xilingol Typical Steppe Area. Plant Diversity and Resources. 33(2): 239-246
  • Urgamal, M., et al, 2014, Conspectus of the Vascular Plants of Mongolia. Mongolia Academy of Sciences Institute of Botany and National University of Mongolia Department of Biology. p 47
  • Zhang, Y., et al, Yunatov’s Records of Wild Edible Plant Used by the Mongols in Mongolia During 1940- 1951: Ethnobotanical Arrangements and Discussions. Inner Mongolia Normal University. p 12

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