Allium victorialis | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
Subfamily: | Allioideae |
Genus: | Allium |
Subgenus: | A. subg. Anguinum |
Species: | A. victorialis
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Binomial name | |
Allium victorialis | |
Synonyms[4] | |
Synonymy
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Allium victorialis, commonly known as victory onion, Alpine leek, and Alpine broad-leaf allium[5] is a broad-leaved Eurasian species of wild onion. It is a perennial of the Amaryllis family that occurs widely in mountainous regions of Europe and parts of Asia (Caucasus and Himalayas).[4][6]
Some authors consider certain East Asian and Alaskan populations as constituting subspecies platyphyllum within the species Allium victorialis.[7][8] Recent sources recognize this group as a distinct species, called Allium ochotense.[9][10][11][12][13]
Allium victorialis attains a height of 30–45 cm (11.8–17.7 in) and forms a sheathed bulb ("root-stalk") about the thickness of a finger and 5–8 cm (2.0–3.1 in) long.[14] Leaves are broad, elliptical or lanceolate. Flowers (perianths) are whitish green.[14]
Allium victorialis is found widely across mountain ranges Europe, as well as the Caucasus and the Himalayas.[4]
The specific epithet victorialis comes from the German Siegwurz (Root of Victory),[15] and it earned this name having been "worn as an amulet, to be as safeguard against the attacks of certain impure spirits," by Bohemian miners among others.[15]
The plant, in past centuries in certain mountainous regions of Europe, "was cultivated as a medicinal and fetish plant".[16] It was also recorded as consumed by Ainu people in northern Japan.[17]