Allium Identification Please

[John Kitt]

I inherited this Allium with the house over 15 years ago but have never tried to identify it.  Grows to about 1.5 - 2 metres and the flower head is 12 cms in diameter. Any suggestions?

[TheOnionMan]

Looks like one of the very close vegetable onion allies; Allium ampeloprasum, Allium porrum (A. ampeloprasum v. porrum), A. commutatum.  Would need to see other plant features such as bulbs, bulb coats and offsets, and leaves, to make a determination.  Based on the height of your plant to 2 meters, it is most likely A. ampeloprasum.
http://digilander.libero.it/felrig/photos/allium_ampeloprasum.htm
http://lh4.ggpht.com/luirig/R5rloJTdDqI/AAAAAAAAAs8/oK1l5npw5vY/s800/allium_ampeloprasum_9.jpg

[John Kitt]

Thanks for that Mark. Knowing the previous occupants, it makes sense that they grew it for flavourings!!

John

[Paddy Tobin]

I don't have the interest in alliums that Mark has but this one looks very familiar to me as I believe it is what I grow as "Elephant Garlic". It has very large cloves and splits well. The cloves are as big as a bulb of normal culinary garlic. However, I don't particularly like the flavour though they are nice when fresh and roasted.

Paddy

[TheOnionMan]

I don't have the interest in alliums that Mark has but this one looks very familiar to me as I believe it is what I grow as "Elephant Garlic". It has very large cloves and splits well. The cloves are as big as a bulb of normal culinary garlic. However, I don't particularly like the flavour though they are nice when fresh and roasted.

Paddy

Elephant garlic makes perfect sense, as it is variety of Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum.   Can't speak to the culinary attributes of "elephant garlic" as I've not tried it.  Be aware that the term "elephant garlic" is a loosely applied name, and researching the name one is likely to see it refer (erroneously) to true garlic (A. sativum) because of the inclusion of the name "garlic" in the common name.

Here's a link showing a similar looking plant, Allium porrum (A. ampeloprasum v. porrum):
http://luirig.altervista.org/photos/a/allium_porrum.htm

[Stephenb]

I would agree that it is most likely to be a form of Elephant Garlic. This and Babington's Leek¨(Allium ampeloprasum v. babingtonii) are most commonly cultivated in the UK. However, the latter has bulbils amongst the flowers. Here are some pictures of various forms of the larger cultivars (there are several others):

1-2. Elephant Garlic (showing the small offset bulbil used to propagate; the second picture is from Knightshayes Court in Devon which has the best collection of Allium ampeloprasum cultivars I've seen.
3-5. Babington's Leek (is found growing wild - relic from cultivation? - in the SW of England.
6. Allium ampeloprasum v. porrum (Common Leek) growing for seed - notice the variation in flower colour.
7. An Italian bulbilliferous cultivar at Knightshayes
8. A lovely dark-flowered form also at Knightshayes, similar to the naturalised US Yorktown onion (http://www.yorkcounty.gov/Portals/ychc/onions.jpg - love to get my hands on one of these dark forms )

Map of the wild distibution of A. ampeloprasum in the UK (there are two forms - Sand Leek lacks the bulbils - and Babington's Leek)
http://www.bsbimaps.org.uk/atlas/map_page_dc4.php?spid=8283&sppname=Allium%20ampeloprasum&commname=Wild%20Leek

[TheOnionMan]

Stephen, good information there!  And good photos to show the varieties.  I too like te look of the dark color on the Knightshayes form of A. ampeloprasum.