Allium cepa

Allium cepa L.
Alliaceae
	30 - 100 cm   5  bis   -  -
	VI, VII, VIII N999D / ffffff
Taxonomy
Divisio: Magnoliophyta Subdivisio: Magnoliophytina Classis: Liliopsida Subclassis: Liliidae Superordo: Lilianae Ordo: Amaryllidales

Allium cepa belongs to the group of bulbous and tuberous plants.

Naming

Allium cepa was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. The name is considered as validly published.

Taxonomy

Allium cepa is a species in the genus Allium which contains approximately 943 to 1011 species and belongs to the family of the Alliaceae (Garlic Family). The type species of the genus is Allium sativum.

Characteristics

Allium cepa - bulbs

File:Allium cepa Viviparum photo filee 552KB.jpg

Allium cepa - inflorescence

Growth

The plants are comparatively long-lived and reach heights of 30 to 100 centimetres. The plants reach a width of 10 to 30 centimetres.

Leaves

Allium cepa is deciduous. The simple leaves are basal. They are linear with entire margins and parallel venation. The surface of the leaves is glabrous.

Flowers and Fruits

Allium cepa produces umbels of white campanulate flowers from June to August. The plants are hermaphroditic.

The plants produce loculicidal capsules.

Distribution

Allium cepa is native to : garden origin.

Cultivation

The plants prefer a sunny situation on dry to moderately moist soil. The substrate should be sandy-loamy, gritty-loamy or sandy clay soil. They tolerate temperatures down to -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Tolerance of special soil conditions

• high: city climate

Uses

Suited as bee pasture.

Maintenance and Propagation

The plants usually require only a moderate amount of maintenance.

Cultivars

• 

  'Redspark'

• 

  'Takmark'

• 

  'White Wing'

Literature

• Walter Erhardt, Erich Götz, Nils Bödeker, Siegmund Seybold: Der große Zander. Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8001-5406-7. (Ger.)
• Christoper Brickell (Editor-in-chief): RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Third edition. Dorling Kindersley, London 2003, ISBN 0-7513-3738-2.

Non-commercial Links

• Allium cepa at the United States Department of Agriculture
• Allium cepa in the Flora of Chinaes:Allium cepa