Linnaeus originally grouped his 30 species into three
alliances,
e.g. Foliis caulinis planis and as the number of recognised species increased, so did the number of subgroups. Since then, many attempts have been made to divide the growing number of recognised species into infrageneric subgroupings, initially as sections, and then as subgenera further divided into sections. For a brief history, see Friesen
et al. (2006) and Li
et al. (2010) Regel's 1875 treatise on
Allium divided his 262 species between the six sections proposed by
Don, in his 1832 monograph on the genus.
Stearn (1944) described 14 subgenera.
Traub (1968) described 3 subgenera, 36 sections and subsections and about 600 species. By 1992 there were 6 sub-genera, 50 sections and subsections and 600–700 species. The situation was further confused by the presence of over 1,000 taxonomic names, many of which turned out to be
synonyms. The modern era of
phylogenetic analysis dates to 1996. In 2006 Friesen, Fritsch, and Blattner described a new classification with 15
subgenera, 56
sections, and about 780 species based on the
nuclear ribosomal gene internal transcribed spacers. Some of the subgenera correspond to the once separate genera (
Caloscordum,
Milula,
Nectaroscordum) included in the
Gilliesieae. The terminology has varied with some authors subdividing subgenera into Sections and others Alliances. The term
alliance has been used for both subgroupings within species,
e.g. Allium nigrum, as well as infrageneric subsections. These alliances are informal groupings based on morphological similarity and reflecting hypotheses of evolutionary relationship. and can be used between any two formal ranks. For instance the some 70 North American species were divided into nine well-defined species alliances, of which the largest was the
Allium falcifolium alliance with 31 taxa. These alliances are usually referred to as the Ownbey alliances, after Marion Ownbey and were also used by Traub. A number of classification schemes have chosen to retain these, the Traub system not being universally accepted. Subsequent
molecular phylogenetic studies have shown the 2006 classification is a considerable improvement over previous classifications, but some of its subgenera and sections are probably not
monophyletic. Meanwhile, the number of new species continued to increase, reaching 800 by 2009, 900 by 2016 and the pace of discovery has not decreased. Detailed studies have focused on a number of subgenera, including
Amerallium.
Amerallium is strongly
supported as monophyletic. Subgenus
Melanocrommyum has also been the subject of considerable study (see below), while work on subgenus
Allium has focused on section
Allium, including
Allium ampeloprasum, although
sampling was not sufficient to test the monophyly of the section. The major
evolutionary lineages or lines correspond to the three major clades. Line one (the oldest) with three subgenera is predominantly bulbous, the second, with five subgenera and the third with seven subgenera contain both bulbous and rhizomatous taxa. Banfi and colleagues (2011) have suggested that the phylogenetic trichotomy of this genus
Allium sensu lato is sufficiently distinct as to warrant splitting it into three separate genera. Banfi's scheme thus proposes the restoring the three originally separate genera
Nectaroscordum Lindl. (type:
N. siculum),
Caloscordum Herb. (type:
C. neriniflorum) and
Allium L.
sensu stricto (type:
A. sativum) to correspond to lines 1-3.
Evolutionary lines and subgenera The three evolutionary lineages and 15 subgenera here represent the classification schemes of Friesen
et al. (2006) and Li (2010), and subsequent additional species and revisions. }} }} }} ;Evolutionary lines and subgenera (number of sections/number of species) •
First evolutionary line (3 subgenera) •
Nectaroscordum (Lindl.) Asch. et Graebn Type:
Allium siculum (1/3) Mediterranean bells, Sicilian honey garlic •
Microscordum (Maxim.) N. Friesen Type:
Allium monanthum (1/1) •
Amerallium Traub Type:
Allium canadense (12/135) •
Second evolutionary line (5 subgenera) •
Caloscordum (Herb.) R. M. Fritsch Type:
Allium neriniflorum (1/3) •
Anguinum (G. Don ex Koch) N. Friesen Type:
Allium victorialis (1/12) •
Porphyroprason (Ekberg) R. M. Fritsch Type:
Allium oreophilum (1/1) •
Vvedenskya (Kamelin) R. M. Fritsch Type:
Allium kujukense (1/1) •
Melanocrommyum (
Webb et
Berthel.)
Rouy Type:
Allium nigrum (20/160) •
Third evolutionary line (7 subgenera) •
Butomissa (Salisb.) N. Friesen Type:
Allium ramosum (2/4) fragrant garlic •
Cyathophora R. M. Fritsch Type:
Allium cyathophorum (3/5) •
Rhizirideum (G. Don ex Koch) Wendelbo s.s Type:
Allium senescens (5/37) •
Allium L. Type:
Allium sativum (15/300) •
Reticulatobulbosa (Kamelin) N. Friesen Type:
Allium lineare (5/80) •
Polyprason Radic Type:
Allium moschatum (4/50) •
Cepa (Mill.) Radic ́ Type:
Allium cepa (5/30) onion, garden onion, bulb onion, common onion
First evolutionary line Although this lineage consists of three subgenera, nearly all the species are attributed to subgenus
Amerallium, the third largest subgenus of
Allium. The lineage is considered to represent the most ancient line within
Allium, and to be the only lineage that is predominantly bulbous, the other two having both bulbous and rhizomatous taxa.
Nectaroscordum and
Microscordum are bulbous, but
Amerallium contains some rhizomatous elements. Within this lineage
Amerallium is a
sister group to the other two subgenera (
Microscordum+
Nectaroscordum).
Subgenus Nectaroscordum Disjunct distribution, involving the western Mediterranean (type species) and southwest Asia • Section
Nectaroscordum (Lindl.) Gren. & Godr. •
Allium siculum Ucria (Syn.
Nectaroscordum siculum (Ucria) Lindl.)
Type •
Allium tripedale Trautv.
Subgenus Microscordum East Asia • Section
Microscordum Maxim. •
Allium monanthum Maxim.
Subgenus Amerallium '' This large monophyletic subgenus is extremely diverse, both morphologically and ecologically and is characterised by leaves with one row of
vascular bundles, absence of
palisade parenchyma and a subepidermal position of
laticifers, with a predominant base
chromosome number x=7. ;Taxonomy
Amerallium is a relatively large subgenus with about 120–140 species. Under the alliance system of classification proposed by Ownbey (1966), species north of Mexico and two Mexican
endemics were treated as eight informal alliances: the
A. acuminatum,
A. campanulatum,
A. canadense,
A. cernuum,
A. falcifolium,
A. kunthii,
A. sanbornii, and
A. validum alliances. Traub (1968) then arranged the
New World alliances into four sections:
Amerallium Traub,
Caulorhizideum Traub,
Lophioprason Traub, and
Rhopetoprason Traub. In addition he arranged the
Old World species into 6 sections. Since Traub's revision of the subgenus, two biogeographical sister clades (or alliances) have been recognised. The Old World clade is represented by two relatively small groups from the Mediterranean and East Asia. The larger New World clade by all North American species of
Allium. The New World sections are
Lophioprason,
Amerallium, and
Rhophetoprason, while the Old World is represented by sections
Arctoprasum,
Briseis,
Narkissoprason,
Molium,
Bromatorrhiza and
Rhynchocarpum. The subgenus is thought to originate in the Old World, with a later split, and to have its origin in the higher latitudes of
East Asia, at the time of transition from
Cretaceous to
Tertiary, dispersing to western North America. Twelve sections were subsequently recognized, with sections
Amerallium and
Molium further split into two subsections. ;Distribution
Amerallium is widely distributed within North America, Europe, north Africa, Ethiopia, the Caucasus, northern Iran, southeast Tibet, and southwest China. The greatest species diversity occurs in North America with 81 species recognized in the 2002
Flora of North America (north of Mexico) and a further 13 are unique to Mexico, and a total of 26 species recognised there. Within N America, the genus covers most of the area south of the
53rd parallel, including the oak hillsides of California and Oregon, deserts of Nevada and Texas, alpine meadows of Utah and Idaho, prairies of Nebraska and Manitoba, and forest glades of Missouri and Arkansas. ;Uses Both bulbous and rhizomatous species occur in both Old World and New World alliances. The subgenus includes both ornamentals, such as
A. moly,
A. roseum,
A. unifolium and
A. neapolitanum, and culinary species such as
A. ursinum. 15 Sections
Section Amerallium • Section
Amerallium (Traub) Kamelin •
Allium canadense L. (Syn.
Allium mutabile Michx.)
Type Canadian garlic •
Allium cuthbertii Small striped garlic •
Allium drummondii Regel (Syn.
Allium nuttallii S.Watson) •
Allium geyeri S. Watson (including
Allium fibrosum Regel) •
Allium textile A.Nelson & J.F.Macbr.— prairie onion
Section Arctoprasum • Section
Arctoprasum Kirschl. •
Allium ursinum L. ramsons, buckrams, wild garlic, broad-leaved garlic, wood garlic, bear's garlic
Section Briseis • Section
Briseis (Salesb.) Stearn •
Allium paradoxum (M.Bieb.) G.Don few-flowered garlic •
Allium triquetrum L.
Type three-cornered leek, triquetous garlic
Section Bromatorrhiza • Section
Bromatorrhiza Ekberg •
Allium hookeri Thwaites •
Allium macranthum Baker (Syn.
Allium oviflorum Regel) •
Allium pendulinum Ten. •
Allium wallichii Kunth (Syn.
Allium polyastrum Diels,
Allium wallichianum Steud.
nom. nud.)
Type Section Caulorhizideum • Section
Caulorhizideum Traub •
Allium validum S.Watson
Section Chamaeprason • Section
Chamaeprason Hermann •
Allium brevistylum S.Watson •
Allium gooddingii Ownbey •
Allium chamaemoly L.
Type Section Lophioprason • Section
Lophioprason Traub •
Allium acuminatum Hook. tapertip onion, Hooker's onion •
Allium amplectens Torr. (Syn.
Allium attenuifolium Kellogg) •
Allium anceps Kellog twinleaf onion •
Allium atrorubens S. Wats. dark red onion •
Allium bigelovii S.Watson • ''
Allium brandegeei S.Watson Brandegee’s Onion •
Allium campanulatum S.Watson (Syn.:
Allium bidwelliae S.Watson) dusky onion •
Allium cernuum Roth (Syn.
Allium allegheniense Small) nodding onion •
Allium crispum Greene •
Allium falcifolium Hook. & Arn. •
Allium fimbriatum S.Watson •
Allium lemmonii S.Watson •
Allium munzii (Ownbey & Aase ex Traub) McNeal •
Allium nevii S. Wats. — Nevius' garlic •
Allium praecox Brandegee •
Allium sanbornii Wood
Type •
Allium siskiyouense Ownbey ex Traub •
Allium stellatum Ker Gawl. •
Allium unifolium Kellogg
Section Molium • Section
Molium G.Don ex Koch •
Allium moly L. •
Allium neapolitanum Cirillo (Syn.
Allium sieberianum Schult. & Schult.f.) white garlic •
Allium roseum L.
Type •
Allium subhirsutum L. (Syn.
Allium ciliatum Cirillo) •
Allium zebdanense Boiss. & Noë
Section Narkissoprason • Section
Narkissoprason Hermann •
Allium insubricum Boiss. & Reut. •
Allium narcissiflorum Vill. (Syn.:
Allium pedemontanum Willd.)
Type Other • Section
Rhophetoprason Traub •
Allium glandulosum Link & Otto • Section
Rhynchocarpum Brullo •
Allium ruhmerianum Aschers. • Section
Triptera Kamelin et Seisums •
Allium tripterum Nasir
Second evolutionary line Nearly all the species in this lineage of five subgenera are accounted for by subgenus
Melanocrommyum, which is most closely associated with subgenera
Vvedenskya and
Porphyroprason, phylogenetically. These three genera are late-branching whereas the remaining two subgenera,
Caloscordum and
Anguinum, are early-branching. Of the five subgenera, the large
Melanocrommymum and the oligo- or monotypic
Caloscordum,
Vvedenskya and
Porphyroprason are bulbous and the remaining small subgenus
Anguinum is rhizomatous.
Subgenus Caloscordum East Asia ;Sections • Section
Caloscordum (Herb.) Baker 3 spp. •
Allium neriniflorum (Herb.) Baker Type •
Allium tubiflorum Rendle
Subgenus Anguinum Two distinct distributions: 1. Eurasian-American (
A. victorialis alliance, including
A. tricoccum) 2. East Asia (
A. prattii,
A. ovalifolium) ;Sections • Section
Anguinum G.Don ex Koch. 12 spp. •
Allium microdictyon Prokh. •
Allium ochotense Prokh. •
Allium ovalifolium Hand.-Mazz. •
Allium prattii C.H.Wright •
Allium tricoccum Aiton (Syn.:
Allium burdickii (Hanes) A.G.Jones) wild leek, ramp •
Allium victorialis L. Type
Subgenus Porphyroprason ;Sections • Section
Porphyroprason Ekberg 1 sp. •
Allium oreophilum C.A.Mey. (Syn.
Allium ostrowskianum Regel)
Subgenus Vvedenskya ;Sections • Section
Vvedenskya Kamelin 1 sp. •
Allium kujukense Vved.
Subgenus Melanocrommyum This
Eurasian subgenus, the second largest, is complex and has had a confusing taxonomic history and is extremely diverse, morphologically. It is distributed from the
Mediterranean to the
Near and
Middle East, to north-western China and Pakistan in the east, and southern
Siberia in the north. The
centre of diversity is Central Asia where it evolved, but its ancestry is located in East Asia. The 2006 classification of Fritsch and colleagues included 150 species but this has continued to grow. An extensive molecular based study in 2010 confirmed its monophyly but showed that the traditional sections were either
para- or
polyphyletic. On the other hand, a number of monophyletic subgroups were recognised, with about 40
clades, although their exact relationships remained not fully resolved. Consequently, traditional sections required considerable re-alignment. Eventually 160 species and subspecies were recognised in 20 sections and 22 subsections. Description: The subgenus is characterised by true tunicated bulbs, annual roots, leaves that are mostly broad and flat with subterranean sheath parts that are barely visible above the ground, scapes that are strong and most often strictly upright and of varying length, and large, fasciculate to globular inflorescences. The latter are composed of many moderately small to large, often star-like, flowers, and some of which have a sweet or noticeable odor. History: Early (prior to 1950) classifications of
Allium included many of the members of this subgenus within the bulbous section,
Mollium based on morphological characteristics.
Mollium was later raised to subgenus level (and then again reduced to a section of
Amerallium after transferring many species to
Melanocrommyum. The subgenus was then divided into sections in 1969. Molecular methods in the 1990s confirmed the identity of
Melanocrommyum as a distinct monophyletic group, together with the presence of several subgroups, but the deeper relationships remained inconsistent. Subdivision: Subdivision of the subgenus was first proposed by
Wendelbo in 1966, proposing section
Regeloprason Wendelbo, followed in 1969 by
Melanocrommyum Webb & Berthel.,
Kaloprason K. Koch,
Acanthoprason Wendelbo,
Megaloprason Wendelbo, and
Thaumasioprason Wendelbo. Kamelin (1973) provided an alternative arrangement of sections, which was supplanted by the Gatersleben
Allium Group classification (1992) which used a broad range of variables. The use of molecular markers to develop phylogeny began in the 1990s and showed that the subgenus was a well separated taxon with a number of subgeneric groupings. Friesen and colleagues (2006) carried out an extensive molecular phylogenetic study resulting in a taxonomy based on 15 sections. These were then further subdivided into five of the sections to create 17 subsections. While
Melanocrommyum itself appeared monophyletic, most of the sections were either para- or polyphyletic, favouring the formation of a larger number of smaller subgroups. In their study there were a number of larger sections with 15–35 species,
Acmopetala,
Megaloprason,
Regeloprason,
Kaloprason, and
Acanthoprason. The remaining sections are either
oligogotypic with 2–8 species (
Compactoprason,
Pseudoprason,
Miniprason,
Brevicaule,
Thaumasioprason,
Verticillata) or monotypic (
Acaule,
Aroidea,
Popovia). In a more focused study in 2010 this was expanded to 20 sections and 22 subsections, or in some cases,
e.g. section
Melanocrommyum (type:
A. nigrum) into nine alliances and
Acanthoprason into seven. This section is the most diverse one within the subgenus in which subgroups differ according to the relationships of the lengths of leaves and scapes (leaves shorter, equal or longer than scapes) and inflorescences (fasciculate, umbellate or subglobose). The increased number of sections resulted from the splitting of some of the earlier sections, such as
Acmopetala. The two species in the resulting section
Longibidentata are sister to all the remaining sections (core clade). This section, together with another new section,
Decipientia form the
basal clade. Although Li
et al. (2010) included three sections, their study was confined to species endemic to China. Uses: The subgenus also contains many species grown as
ornamentals, such as
A. giganteum,
A. cristophii,
A. schubertii,
A. aflatunense,
A. atropurpureum,
A. nigrum and
A. karataviense. These species are predominantly from Southwestern and Central Asia, where they are used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. The latter usage is associated with the presence of
cysteine sulphoxides and also
radical scavenger activity, although many members of the subgenus possess less of these compounds and lack the distinctive taste and smell of garlic and onion, their properties appear to be associated with dithiodipyrroles and sulfur-pyridins. These substances also occur in the ornamental species, that were introduced into European and North American gardens in the early 19th century, and now are represented by an increasing number of named
cultivars and
hybrids. Cysteine sulphoxides are also largely responsible for the flavour and spicy taste of these species, predominantly the
isomeric cysteine derivatives
alliin and
isoalliin. 15 sections • Section
Acanthoprason Type
A. akaka • Section
Acaule Type
A. hexaceras • Section
Acmopetala Type
A. backhousianum • 7 subsections • Section
Aroidea Type
A. aroides • Section
Asteroprason Type
A. elburzense • 2 subsections • Section
Brevicaule Type
A. sergii • Section
Compactoprason Type
A. giganteum • 3 subsections • Section
Decipientia Type
A. decipiens • Section
Kaloprason Type
A. caspium • 3 subsections • Section
Longibidentata Type
A. fetisowii • Section
Megaloprason Type
A. rosenbachianum • 4 subsections • Section
Melanocrommyum Type
A. nigrum • Section
Miniprason Type
A. karataviense • Section
Popovia Type
A. gypsaceum • Section
Procerallium Type
Allium stipitatum • 2 subsections • Section
Pseudoprason Type
A. koelzii • Section
Regeloprason Type
A. regelii • 3 subsections • Section
Stellata Type
A. taeniopetalum • Section
Thaumasioprason Type
A. mirum • Section
Verticillata Type
A. verticillatum ;Sections • Section
Acanthoprason Wendelbo • Allium akaka alliance •
Allium akaka S.G.Gmel. ex Schult. & Schult. f.
Type • Allium austroiranicum alliance •
Allium austroiranicum R.M. Fritsch • Allium derderianum alliance •
Allium breviscapum Stapf •
Allium derderianum Regel • Allium haemanthoides alliance •
Allium haemanthoides Boiss. & Reut.
ex Regel
s. str. •
Allium zagricum R. M. Fritsch • Allium materculae alliance •
Allium graveolens (R.M.Fritsch) R.M.Fritsch •
Allium materculae Bordz. • Allium minutiflorum alliance •
Allium hamedanense R. M. Fritsch •
Allium minutiflorum Regel • Allium ubipetrense alliance •
Allium ubipetrense R. M. Fritsch (Syn.
Allium haemanthoides var.
lanceolatum Boiss) • Section
Acaule R.M.Fritsch •
Allium hexaceras Vved. • Section
Acmopetala R.M.Fritsch • Subsection
Acmopetala R. M. Fritsch •
Allium aflatunense B.Fedtsch.
non hort. flowering onion •
Allium backhousianum Regel (Syn.
Allium gulczense O. Fedtsch.)
Type (section and subsection) • Subsection
Albidiflora R. M. Fritsch •
Allium saposhnikovii Nikitina (
Syn. Allium collis-magni Kamelin) • Subsection
Durovaginata R. M. Fritsch •
Allium costatovaginatum Kamelin & Levichev
Type •
Allium severtzovioides R.M. Fritsch • Subsection
Inornatae R. M. Fritsch •
Allium sewerzowii Regel
Type •
Allium tashkenticum F. O. Khass. & R. M. Fritsch (Syn.
Allium collis-magni auct. non Kamelin) • Subsection
Pharmakoprason R. M. Fritsch •
Allium tschimganicum B.Fedtsch. (Syn.
Allium motor Kamelin & Levichev) • Section
Aroidea Khass. & R.M.Fritsch •
Allium aroides Vved. et Popov • Section
Asteroprason R. M. Fritsch • Subsect
Asteroprason R. M. Fritsch •
Allium elburzense Wendelbo
Type (section and subsection) •
Allium helicophyllum Vved. •
Allium monophyllum Vved. • Subsection
Christophiana T Scholok. •
Allium cristophii Trautv. (Syn.
Allium albopilosum C.H.Wright,
Allium walteri Regel,
Allium bodeanum Regel
nom. rej.,
Allium christophii Trautv.
orth. var.)
Type •
Allium ellisii Hook.f • Section
Brevicaule R.M.Fritsch •
Allium badakhshanicum Wendelbo •
Allium chitralicum Wang et Tang s. str. (Syn.
Allium pauli Vved.) •
Allium sergii Vved.
Type • Section
Compactoprason R.M.Fritsch • Subsection
Erectopetala F. O. K Hass. •
Allium giganteum Regel
Type (section and subsection) giant onion •
Allium macleanii Baker (Syn.
Allium elatum Regel) • Subsection
Komaroviana F. O. Khass. & R. M. Fritsch •
Allium komarowii Lipsky • Subsection
Spiralopetala F. O. Khass. & R. M. Fritsch •
Allium majus Vved. • Section
Decipientia (O Melczuk) R.M.Fritsch •
Allium chelotum Wendelbo •
Allium decipiens Fisch. ex Schult. & Schult. f.
Type •
Allium grande Lipsky •
Allium roborowskianum Regel •
Allium robustum Kar.&Kir. •
Allium sinkiangense F.T. Wang & Y.C. Tang •
Allium tulipifolium Ledeb. •
Allium viridulum Ledeb. • Section
Kaloprason C.Koch • Subsection
Kaloprason (K. Koch) Kamelin
s. str. •
Allium caspium (Pall.) M. Bieb.
Type (section and subsection) •
Allium bucharicum Regel • Subsection
Ligulifolia R. M. Fritsch •
Allium alexeianum Regel
s. str. •
Allium hindukuschense Kamelin & Seisums • Subsect
Schubertia Kamelin •
Allium schubertii Zucc. • Section
Longibidentata (R.M.Fritsch) R.M.Fritsch •
Allium fetisowii Regel (Syn.
Allium simile Regel)
Type •
Allium chychkanense R. M. Fritsch • Section
Megaloprason Wendelbo • Subsection
Humilicognata R. M. Fritsch •
Allium assadii Seisums (Syn. Allium brachyscapum
sensu Wendelbo) •
Allium brachyscapum Vved.
Type •
Allium scotostemon Wendelbo • Subsection
Keratoprason R. M. Fritsch •
Allium sarawschanicum Regel (Syn.
Allium pseudozeravschanicum Popov & Vved.
ex B. Fedtsch & Popov) • Subsection
Megaloprason R. M. Fritsch •
Allium insufficiens Vved. •
Allium rosenbachianum Regel
Type (section and subsection) • Subsection
Spiralitunicata R. M. Fritsch •
Allium fibriferum Wendelbo •
Allium suworowii Regel
Type • Section
Melanocrommyum Webb & Berthel.
s.s. • Allium asclepiadeum alliance •
Allium asclepiadeum Bornm. •
Allium chrysantherum Boiss.& Reut. (Syn.
Allium reflexum Boiss.& Reut.
non F. Dietr.) •
Allium eginense Freyn •
Allium kharputense Freyn & Sint. •
Allium nemrutdaghense Kit Tan & Sorger •
Allium olivieri Boiss. •
Allium saralicum R. M. Fritsch •
Allium shatakiense Rech.f. •
Allium stenopetalum Boiss. & Kotschy •
Allium urmiense Kamelin & Seisums • Allium bisotunense alliance •
Allium bisotunense R. M. Fritsch • Allium cardiostemon alliance •
Allium cardiostemon Fisch. & C.A.Mey. (Syn.
Allium atriphoeniceum Bornm.,
Allium nabelekii Kamelin & Seisums,
Allium trilophostemon Bornm. •
Allium mariae Bordz. • Allium colchicifolium alliance •
Allium colchicifolium Boiss. •
Allium libani Boiss. Lebanese onion • Allium multibulbosum alliance •
Allium atropurpureum Waldst. & Kit. •
Allium cyrilli Ten. •
Allium multibulbosum Jacq. (Syn.
Allium nigrum auct. non L.) • Allium nigrum alliance •
Allium nigrum L. (Syn.
Allium afrum (Zuccagni) Kunth,
Allium magicum L.,
nom. rej.,
Allium bauerianum Baker)
Type black garlic •
Allium struzlianum Ogan. • Allium noëanum alliance •
Allium karamanoglui Koyuncu & Kollmann •
Allium noëanum Reut. ex Regel (Syn.
Allium dilutum Stapf,
Allium jenischianum Regel) • Allium orientale alliance •
Allium aschersonianum Barbey •
Allium dumetorum Feinbrun & Szel. •
Allium orientale Boiss. •
Allium tel-avivense Eig •
Allium tubergenii Freyn • Allium rothii alliance •
Allium rothii Zucc. •
Allium vinicolor Wendelbo • Section
Miniprason R.M.Fritsch
monotypic •
Allium karataviense Regel (Syn.
Allium cabulicum Baker,
Allium singulifolium Rech. f.; ? incl. subsp.
henrikii Ruksans) • Section
Popovia Khass. & R.M.Fritsch •
Allium gypsaceum Popov et Vved. • Section
Procerallium R. M. Fritsch • Subsection
Elatae R. M. Fritsch •
Allium stipitatum Regel
Type (subsection and section) Persian shallot •
Allium altissimum Regel • Subsection
Costatae R. M. Fritsch •
Allium hollandicum R. M. Fritsch (Syn.
Allium aflatunense hort. non B. Fedtsch.) flowering onion •
Allium jesdianum Boiss. & Buhse
Type •
Allium rosenorum R.M. Fritsch (Syn.
Allium rosenbachianum auct. non Regel) • Section
Pseudoprason (Wendelbo) K.Persson & Wendelbo •
Allium hooshidaryae Mashayekhi, Zarre & R.M.Fritsch •
Allium koelzii (Wendelbo) K.Perss. et Wendelbo
Type • Section
Regeloprason Wendelbo • Subsection
Diffusoumbellata R. M. Fritsch •
Allium balkhanicum (R. M. Fritsch & F.O.Khass.) R. M. Fritsch •
Allium cathodicarpum Wendelbo •
Allium cupuliferum Regel
Type •
Allium iliense Regel •
Allium isakulii R. M. Fritsch & F.O.Khass. (Syn.
Allium cupuliferum sensu Kamelin subsp.
nuratense Kamelin) •
Allium subkopetdagense (R. M. Fritsch & F.O. Khass.) R. M. Fritsch • Subsection
Odoratae R. M. Fritsch •
Allium chodsha-bakirganicum Gaffarov & Turakulov •
Allium darwasicum Regel
Type •
Allium hissaricum Vved. •
Allium intradarvazicum R. M. Fritsch***
Allium lipskyanum Vved. •
Allium pseudowinklerianum R. M. Fritsch & F.O. Khass •
Allium sochense R. M. Fritsch & U. Turakulov •
Allium winklerianum Regel • Subsection
Regeloprason (Wendelbo) Kamelin •
Allium regelii Trautv.
Type •
Allium victoris Vved. • Section
Stellata (F.O. Khass. & R.M. Fritsch) R.M. Fritsch •
Allium taeniopetalum Popov & Vved. (Syn.:
Allium baschkyzylsaicum Krassovsk.,
Allium mogoltavicum Vved.) • Section
Thaumasioprason Wendelbo •
Allium caroli-henrici Wendelbo •
Allium cucullatum Wendelbo •
Allium khozratense R. M. Fritsch •
Allium mirum Wendelbo
Type • Section
Verticillata Kamelin •
Allium verticillatum Regel
Third evolutionary line The third evolutionary line contains the most number of subgenera (seven) and also the largest subgenus of the genus
Allium, subgenus
Allium which includes the type species of the genus,
Allium sativum. This subgenus also contains the majority of the species in the line. Within the lineage the phylogeny is complex. Two small subgenera
Butomissa and
Cyathophora form a sister clade to the remaining five subgenera, with
Butomissa as the first branching group. Amongst the remaining five subgenera,
Rhizirideum forms a medium-sized subgenus that is the sister to the other four larger subgenera. However, they may not be monophyletic. Of the seven subgenera, the large subgenus
Allium represents the bulbous element.
Subgenus Butomissa ''] 2 sections • Section
Austromontana Type
A. oreoprasum • Section
Butomissa Type
A. ramosum ;Sections • Section
Austromontana N.Friesen :Mountains from eastern to central Asia up to the borderline of the eastern Mediterranean •
Allium gilgiticum Wang & Tang •
Allium oreoprasum Schrenk
Type • Section
Butomissa (Salisb.) Kamelin :Siberian–Mongolian–North Chinese steppes •
Allium ramosum L. (Syn.
Allium odorum L.,
Allium tataricum L. f.,
Allium lancipetalum Y.P.Hsu,
Allium potaninii Regel,
Allium weichanicum Palibin)
Type •
Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Spreng Chinese chives
Subgenus Cyathophora Asia (Tibet and the Himalayas) 3 sections • Section
Coleoblastus Type
A. mairei • Section
Cyathophora Type
A. cyathophorum • Section
Milula Type
A. spicatum ;Sections • Section
Coleoblastus Ekberg •
Allium auriculatum Kunth •
Allium mairei H.Lév. (Syn.
Allium yunnanense Diels)
Type • Section
Cyathophora R.M.Fritsch •
Allium cyathophorum Bureau & Franch • Section
Milula (Prain) Friesen •
Allium spicatum (Prain) N.Friesen
Subgenus Rhizirideum ~ 37 species. Eurasian steppes, with greatest diversity in southern Siberia and Mongolia. Only a few species distributed in Europe, with Portugal as most western point. Some species occur also in Korea and far eastern Russia, and one in Japan. 5 sections • Section
Caespitosoprason Type
A. polyrhizum • Section
Eduardia Type
A. eduardii • Section
Rhizirideum Type
A. senescens • Section
Rhizomatosa Type
A. caespitosum • Section
Tenuissima Type
A. tenuissimum ;Sections • Section
Caespitosoprason N.Friesen •
Allium bidentatum Fisch. ex Prokh. •
Allium mongolicum Regel •
Allium polyrhizum Turcz. ex Regel
Type •
Allium przewalskianum Regel •
Allium subangulatum Regel • Section
Eduardia N.Friesen •
Allium eduardii Stearn • Section
Rhizirideum G.Don ex Koch •
Allium albidum Fisch. ex M.Bieb. •
Allium angulosum L. mouse garlic •
Allium austrosibiricum N.Friesen •
Allium burjaticum N.Friesen •
Allium denudatum Redouté (Syn.
Allium albidum Fisch. ex M.Bieb.) •
Allium lusitanicum Lam. (Syn.
Allium fallax Schult. & Schult. f.,
Allium montanum F.W.Schmidt) •
Allium minus S.Yu, W.Lee & S.Lee •
Allium nutans L. •
Allium prostratum Trevir. •
Allium pseudosenescens H.J.Choi & B.U.Oh •
Allium rubens Schrad. ex Willd. •
Allium senescens L. (Syn.
Allium baicalense Willd.,
Allium glaucum Schrad. ex Poir.)
Type •
Allium spirale Willd. •
Allium spurium G.Don (Syn.
Allium dauricum N.Friesen,
Allium saxicola Kitag.) •
Allium stellerianum Willd. • Section
Rhizomatosa Egor. •
Allium caespitosum Siev. • Section
Tenuissima (Tzag.) Hanelt •
Allium anisopodium Ledeb. •
Allium tenuissimum L.
Type •
Allium vodopjanovae N.Friesen
Subgenus Allium Subgenus
Allium, the youngest of the subgenera, is predominantly Mediterranean but its distribution extends east towards Central Asia. This very large subgenus is divided into 15 - 16 sections and demonstrates two main groups. One has been referred to as
classical Allium with tripartite inner filaments and only one thick storage cataphyll. The other is more diverse morphologically reflected in less closely related sections. A number of sections appear to be non-monophyletic, including
Avulsea,
Pallasia,
Brevispatha and
Kopetdagia. It includes both ornamentals, such as
A. sphaerocephalon,
A. caeruleum,
A. carinatum and
A. flavum as well as food crops such as
A. sativum and
A. ampeloprasum. 16 Sections • Section
Allium Type
A. sativum • Section
Avulsea Type
A. rubellum • Section
Brevidentia Type
A. brevidens • Section
Brevispatha Type
A. parciflorum • Section
Caerulea Type
A. caeruleum • Section
Codonoprasum Type
A. oleraceum • Section
Costulatae Type
A. filidens • Section
Crystallina Type
A. crystallinum • Section
Eremoprasum Type
A. sabulosum • Section
Kopetdagia Type
A. kopedeganse • Section
Longivaginata Type
A. longivaginatum • Section
Minuta Type
A. minutum • Section
Mediasia Type
A. turkestanicum • Section
Multicaulea Type
A. lehmannianum • Section
Pallasia Type
A. pallasii • Section
Spathulata Type
A. spathulatum ;Sections
Section Allium This is the largest section with about 114 species, a number of which are economically important, such as
A. sativum (garlic) and
A. ampeloprasum (leek). This section also expresses frequent
polyploidy and contains a number of species whose boundaries have been difficult to establish, notably
A. ampeloprasum which includes a number of subspecies and varieties, as well as synonymous species, which have been labelled the "
A. ampeloprasum complex". Horticulturally, it is represented by at least four groups, including leeks, whose exact ancestry has been considered uncertain. In the molecular phylogenetic study by Hirschegger and colleagues (2010) showed section
Allium to be a well supported clade with two main subclades, one of which included two smaller clades. All of the tetraploid forms of
A. ampeloprasum were resolved in a single clade, and leeks appeared to be more closely allied to
A. iranicum and
A. atroviolaceum than
A. ampeloprasum. Restoration of
A. porrum L. was therefore proposed for the tertraploid forms, reserving
A. ampeloprasum for the forms known horticulturally as great headed garlic and
A. ampeloprasum var.
babingtonii. • Section
Allium L. •
Allium acutiflorum Lois. •
Allium affine Ledeb. •
Allium amethystinum Tausch (Syn.:
Allium stojanovii Kov.) •
Allium ampeloprasum L. (Syn.
Allium babingtonii Borrer,
Allium scorodoprasum var.
babingtonii (Borrer) Regel,
Allium kurrat Schweinf. ex K.Krause) (broadleaf) wild leek •
Allium artemisietorum Eig & Feinbrun •
Allium atroviolaceum Boiss. (Syn.:
Allium ampeloprasum var.
atroviolaceum (Boiss.) Regel) •
Allium aucheri Boiss. (Syn.:
Allium caerulescens Boiss.) •
Allium bourgeaui Rech.f. •
Allium commutatum Guss. •
Allium curtum Boiss. & Gaill. •
Allium dictyoprasum C.A.Mey. ex Kunth •
Allium dilatatum Zahar. •
Allium dregeanum Kunth •
Allium ebusitanum Font Quer (Syn.:
Allium durandoi (Batt. & Trab.) Seregin,
Allium sphaerocephalon var.
durandoi Batt. & Trab.) •
Allium ekimianum Ekşi, Koyuncu & Özkan •
Allium fuscoviolaceum Fomin •
Allium gramineum K.Koch (Syn.:
Allium fominianum Miscz. ex Grossh. & Schischk.) •
Allium guttatum Steven (Syn.:
Allium dalmaticum A.Kern. ex Janch.,
Allium margaritaceum Sm.,
Allium sardoum Moris) •
Allium heldreichii Boiss. •
Allium iranicum (Wendelbo) Wendelbo •
Allium jubatum J.F.Macbr. •
Allium leucanthum K.Koch •
Allium macrochaetum Boiss. & Hausskn. •
Allium melitense (Somm. & Caruana) Cif. & Giacom.(Syn.
Allium ampeloprasum var.
melitense Sommier & Caruana ex Borg.) •
Allium polyanthum Schult. & Schult. f. •
Allium ponticum Miscz. ex Grossh. •
Allium porrum L. (Syn.
A. ampeloprasum var.
porrum (L.) J.Gay) •
Allium pseudoampeloprasum Miscz. ex Grossh. •
Allium pyrenaicum Costa & Vayr. •
Allium rotundum L. (Syn.
Allium jajlae Vved.,
Allium cilicium Boiss.,
Allium waldsteinii G.Don) •
Allium sativum L. (Syn.:
Allium longicuspis Regel)
Type garlic •
Allium scorodoprasum L. sand leek •
Allium sphaerocephalon L. (Syn.
Allium descendens L.) •
Allium truncatum (Feinbrun) Kollmann & Zohary (Syn.:
Allium ampeloprasum var.
truncatum Feinbrun) •
Allium tuncelianum (Kollmann) Özhatay et al. Tunceli garlic, Ovacik garlic •
Allium vineale L. (Syn.
Allium kochii Lange,
Allium vineale var.
purpureum H.P.G.Koch) crow garlic, wild garlic
Section Avulsea • Section
Avulsea F.O.Khass. •
Allium rubellum M.Bieb. (Syn.
Allium albanum Grossh.)
Type •
Allium umbilicatum Boiss.
Section Brevidentia • Section
Brevidentia F.O.Khass. et Iengalycheva •
Allium brevidens Vved. •
Allium haneltii F.O.Khass. & R.M.Fritsch
Section Brevispatha • Section
Brevispatha Valsecchi •
Allium lojaconoi Brullo, Lanfr. & P.Pavone •
Allium parciflorum Brullo, Lanfr. & P.Pavone
Type Section Caerulea • Section
Caerulea (Omelcz.) F.O.Khass. •
Allium caeruleum Pall. (Syn.
Allium azureum Ledeb.,
Allium viviparum Kar. & Kir.)
Type blue globe onion •
Allium caesium Schrenk (Syn.:
Allium urceolatum Regel) •
Allium delicatulum J.F.E.Siev. ex Schult. & Schult. f.
Section Codonoprasum Section
Codonoprason is strongly
monophyletic and has its
centre of diversity in the
Mediterranean region, particularly Greece and Turkey, but extends to other areas of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. It was originally conceived of as a separate genus,
Codonoprasum by
Reichenbach in 1828. The taxonomy of the section is complicated with inconsistent speciation. In 2005 the section was considered to consist of 58 species and 7 subspecies. The section is characterised as large plants with multiflowered inflorescences, long pedicels, very long spathe valves and a cylindrical-campanulate perigon, with unequal and long-caudate spathe leaves. Historically the section has been considered to have a number of subsections. Friesen recognised 2, while others have described 3,
e.g.; :
Codonoprasum (Rchb.) Kamelin :
Longistamineum Cheshm. ex Omelczuk :
Haemoprason (F. Herm.) Cheshm. Many species were previously included in a grouping referred to as the
Paniculatum complex. Molecular studies demonstrate the presence of two clades within the section. Clade A contains the two autumn flowering species,
Allium tardans and
Allium parciflorum as a subclade. Clade B contains the smaller taxa within the section. • Section
Codonoprasum Reichenb. •
Allium agrigentinum Brullo & Pavone •
Allium apergii Trigas, Iatrou & Tzanoudakis •
Allium apolloniensis B. Biel, Kit Tan & Tzanoud. •
Allium brulloi Salmeri •
Allium candargyi Karavok. & Tzanoud. •
Allium carinatum L. (Syn.:
Allium pulchellum G.Don) •
Allium castellanense (Garbari, Miceli & Raimondo) Brullo, Guglielmo, Pavone & Salmeri •
Allium chloranthum Boiss. •
Allium dentiferum Webb & Berthel •
Allium desertorum Forssk. •
Allium dodecanesii Karavokyrou & Tzanoudak •
Allium dirphianum Brullo, Guglielmo, Pavone, Salmeri & Terrasi •
Allium dumanii Koyuncu & Koçyiğit •
Allium exile Boiss. & Orph. •
Allium flavum L. (Syn.:
Allium paczoskianum Tuzson) •
Allium garganicum Brullo, Pavone, Salmeri & Terrasi •
Allium guicciardii Heldr. •
Allium kunthianum Vved. (Syn.:
Allium lepidum Kunth) •
Allium lehmanii Lojac. •
Allium melanantherum Pančić •
Allium occultum Tzanoudakis & Trigas •
Allium oleraceum L.
Type field garlic •
Allium pallens L. (Syn.:
Allium coppoleri Tineo) •
Allium paniculatum L. (Syn.:
Allium karsianum Fomin) •
Allium parciflorum Viv. •
Allium parnassicum (Boiss.) Halacsy •
Allium phitosianum Brullo, Guglielmo, Pavone, Salmeri & Terrasi •
Allium pilosum Sm. •
Allium platakisii Tzanoud. & Kypr. •
Allium pseudoflavum Vved. •
Allium rausii Brullo, Guglidmo, Pavone, Salmeri & Terrasi •
Allium rupestre Steven (Syn.:
Allium charaulicum Fomin) •
Allium savii Parl. •
Allium stamineum Boiss. •
Allium tardans Greuter & Zahar. •
Allium telmatum Bogdanovic, Brullo, Giusso & Salmeri •
Allium tenuiflorum Ten.
Section Costulatae • Section
Costulatae F.O.Khass. & Yengal. •
Allium filidens Regel
Type •
Allium turcomanicum Regel
Other • Section
Crystallina F.O.Khass. & Yengalycheva •
Allium crystallinum Vved. • Section
Eremoprasum (Kamelin) F.O.Khass. ex R.M.Fritsch & N.Friesen •
Allium sabulosum Steven ex Bunge
Type • Section
Kopetdagia F. O. Khassanov •
Allium kopetdagense Vved. • Section
Longivaginata (Kamelin) F.O.Khass. ex R.M.Fritsch & N.Friesen •
Allium longivaginatum Wendelbo • Section
Minuta F. O. Khassanov •
Allium minutum Vved. • Section
Mediasia F.O.Khass., Yengalycheva & N.Friesen •
Allium turkestanicum Regel • Section
Multicaulea F.O.Khass. & Yengalycheva •
Allium lehmannianum Merckl. ex Bunge • Section
Pallasia (Tzag.) F.O.Khass. ex R.M.Fritsch & N.Friesen •
Allium pallasii Murray
Type •
Allium tanguticum Regel • Section
Spathulata F.O. Khass. & R.M.Fritsch •
Allium spathulatum Khass. & R.M.Fritsch • Unplaced •
Allium macrostemon Bunge (Syn.
Allium grayi Regel,
Allium nipponicum Franch. & Sav.)
Subgenus Reticulatobulbosa '' The second largest subgenus in the third evolutionary line. 5 sections. • Section
Campanulata Type
A. xiphopetalum • Section
Nigrimontana Type
A. drobovii • Section
Reticulatobulbosa Type
A. lineare • Section
Scabriscapa Type
A. scabriscapum • Section
Sikkimensia Type
A. sikkimense ;Sections • Section
Campanulata Kamelin •
Allium barsczewskii Lipsky •
Allium drepanophyllum Vved. •
Allium inconspicuum Vved. •
Allium jodanthum Vved. •
Allium xiphopetalum Aitch.
Type • Section
Nigrimontana N.Friesen : Kazakhstan •
Allium drobovii Vved.
Type •
Allium oreoprasoides Vved. • Section
Reticulatobulbosa Kamelin •
Allium amphibolum Ledeb. •
Allium clathratum Ledeb. •
Allium eriocoleum Vved. •
Allium flavidum Ledeb. •
Allium flavovirens Regel (Syn.
Allium leucocephalum Turcz. ex Vved.,
Allium schischkinii K.Sobol.) •
Allium koreanum H.J.Choi & B.U.Oh •
Allium lineare L.
Type •
Allium pseudostrictum Albov •
Allium splendens Willd. •
Allium strictum Schrad. •
Allium szovitsii Regel • Section
Scabriscapa (Tscholok.) N.Friesen •
Allium scabriscapum Boiss. & Kotschy (including
A. eriocoleum Vved.)
Type •
Allium sulphureum Vved. •
Allium trachyscordum Vved. • Section
Sikkimensia N.Friesen :Southwestern and southern China •
Allium beesianum W.W.Sm. •
Allium cyaneum Regel •
Allium sikkimense Baker (Syn.
Allium kansuense Regel,
Allium tibeticum Rendle)
Type Subgenus Polyprason '' 4 sections • Section
Daghestanica Type
A. daghestanicum • Section
Falcatifolia Type
A. carolinianum • Section
Oreiprason Type
A. saxatile • Section
Scorodon Type
A. moschatum ;Sections • Section
Daghestanica (Tscholok.) N.Friesen : 2 geographical alliances :: 1. Caucasian species (
A. daghestanicum,
A. gunibicum) :: 2. European species from the eastern Alps to the Pyrenees •
Allium chrysanthum Regel •
Allium chrysocephalum Regel •
Allium daghestanicum Grossh.
Type •
Allium ericetorum Thore (Syn.
Allium ochroleucum Waldst. & Kit.) •
Allium gunibicum Miscz. ex Grossh. •
Allium herderianum Regel •
Allium kermesinum Rchb. •
Allium maowenense J.M.Xu •
Allium rude J.M.Xu •
Allium suaveolens Jacq. •
Allium xichuanense J.M.Xu • Section
Falcatifolia N.Friesen : Montane to subalpine belt of Central Asian mountains •
Allium carolinianum DC. (Syn.
Allium blandum Wall.,
Allium polyphyllum Kar. & Kir.,
Allium thomsonii Baker)
Type •
Allium hymenorhizum Ledeb. •
Allium platyspathum Schrenk • Section
Oreiprason F.Herm. •
Allium albovianum Vved. (Syn.
Allium gracile Albov) •
Allium consanguineum Kunth •
Allium glaciale Vved. •
Allium goloskokovii Vved. •
Allium horvatii Lovrić •
Allium kaschianum Regel •
Allium kokanicum Regel •
Allium obliquum L. •
Allium roylei Stearn •
Allium saxatile M.Bieb. (Syn.
Allium globosum M.Bieb. ex DC.)
Type •
Allium stracheyi Baker •
Allium talassicum Regel • Section
Scorodon Koch
sensu stricto (
s.s.) •
Allium frigidum Boiss. & Heldr. •
Allium jacquemontii Kunth •
Allium moschatum L. subgenus
Type •
Allium popovii Vved.
Subgenus Cepa Polyphyletic. 5 sections. • Section
Annuloprason Type
A. fedschenkoanum • Section
Cepa Type
A. cepa • Section
Condensatum Type
A. condensatum • Section
Sacculiferum Type
A. sacculiferum • Section
Schoenoprasum Type
A. schoenoprasum ;Sections • Section
Annuloprason T.V.Egorova •
Allium atrosanguineum Schrenk (including
Allium fedschenkoanum Regel;
Allium kaufmannii Regel) •
Allium fedschenkoanum Regel.
Type •
Allium semenovii Regel • Section
Cepa (Mill.) Prokh. •
Allium altaicum Pall. •
Allium asarense R.M.Fritsch & Matin •
Allium cepa L.
Type onion •
Allium ×cornutum Clementi •
Allium farctum Wendelbo •
Allium fistulosum L. Welsh onion •
Allium galanthum Kar. & Kir. (Syn.
Allium pseudocepa Schrenk) •
Allium oschaninii O.Fedtsch. shallot •
Allium praemixtum Vved. •
Allium ×proliferum (Moench) Schrad. ex Willd. (=
A. fistulosum ×
A. cepa, Syn.
Allium cepa var.
bulbiferum Regel,
Allium cepa var.
proliferum (Moench) Alef.,
Allium cepa var.
viviparum (Metzg.) Alef.,
Allium cepa viviparum Metzg.,
Allium ×
wakegii Araki) •
Allium pskemense B.Fedtsch. •
Allium rhabdotum Stearn •
Allium vavilovii Popov & Vved. • Section
Condensatum N. Friesen : Eastern Siberia and Mongolia north to Korea and Japan •
Allium condensatum Turcz. • Section
Sacculiferum P.P.Gritz. •
Allium chinense G.Don (Syn.
Allium bakeri Regel) Chinese onion •
Allium linearifolium H.J.Choi & B.U.Oh •
Allium longistylum Baker (Syn.
A. jeholense Franch.,
A. hopeiense Nakai) •
Allium pseudojaponicum Makino •
Allium sacculiferum Maxim. •
Allium taquetii H.Lév. •
Allium thunbergii G.Don
Type •
Allium virgunculae F.Maek. & Kitam. • Section
Schoenoprasum Dum. •
Allium altyncolicum N.Friesen •
Allium karelinii Poljakov (Syn.
Allium schoenoprasum var.
scaberrimum Regel) •
Allium ledebourianum Schult. & Schult. f. •
Allium maximowiczii Regel •
Allium oliganthum Kar. & Kir. (Syn.
Allium stenophyllum Schrenk) •
Allium schmitzii Cout. •
Allium schoenoprasum L.
Type chives
Species == Etymology ==