ALLIUM BOURGEAUI Subsp. BOURGEAUI

Familly:- ALLIACEAE/Sect. ALLIUM (Formally a member of the Lilaceae)

Common Names:- None

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Allium (L) The ancient Latin name for garlic.

Bourgeaui (L) For Eugene Boureau (1813-77) French traveller and

collector.

General description:- Bulbous perennial plant, usually smelling strongly of garlic

or onion.

Bulbs:- c. 1,5cm diam, ovoid.

Stems:- Up to 45-90 cm.

Leaves:-

1) 4-11, 6-25 mm wide, long and narrow with margins parallel, flat, keeled, with the

margin slightly rough, sheathing the lower 1/3-1/2 of the stem, withered at flowering

time.

2) Spathe 1-valved, quickly falling, ovate at base, abruptly contracted above into a

beak up to 15 cm.

Flowers:-

1) Umbel 3-5 cm diam, almost globular or hemispherical, many-flowered.

2) Flower stalk 10-25 mm, almost equal.

3) Floral envelope cylindrical, bell-shaped, ellipsoid or ovoid; segments 2·5-5·5 x 1-

2·5 mm, boat-shaped, the outer mostly lance-shaped and acute or obtuse, the inner

narrowly oblong and obtuse or truncate.

4) Stamens long-exserted.

5) Outer 3 filaments 3·5-4·5 mm, simple, the inner 3 with the basal lamina about

twice as long as the central cusp, margin fringed with hairs.

6) Anthers yellow.

Fruit:- Capsule c. 4 mm

Key features:-

1) Stem 45-90 cm.

2) Umbel 3-5 cm in diam.

3) Perianth cylindrical, rarely almost campanulate, pale green; outer segments

2·5-4 mm, densely covered with small papillae.

4) Anthers yellow.

Habitat:- Calcareous cliffs (alt. 0-800 m)

Distribution:- Endemic to the Aegean area. Rare on Crete currently know from only

two locations in the east.

Flowering time:- June-July

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