| Allium carinatum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Allium carinatum[1] | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Allioideae |
| Genus: | Allium |
| Subgenus: | A. subg. Allium |
| Species: | A. carinatum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Allium carinatum | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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Species synonymy
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Allium carinatum, the keeled garlic[4] or witch's garlic, is a bulbous perennial flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae. It is widespread across central and southern Europe, with some populations in Asiatic Turkey. It is cultivated in many places as an ornamental and also for its potently aromatic bulbs used as a food flavoring.[5]
Numerous botanical names have been coined within the species at the varietal level, but only two are recognized:[6]
Allium carinatum produces a single small bulb rarely more than 15 mm long, flat leaves, and an umbel up to 60 cm tall of purple to reddish-purple flowers. The flowers are on long pedicels and often nodding (hanging downwards).[7][8]
Allium carinatum is considered native to the Mediterranean Region from Spain to Turkey, north to Sweden and the Baltic Republics. It is naturalized in the British Isles[6]
A. carinatum subsp. pulchellum[9] and the white flowering form A. carinatum subsp. pulchellum f. album[10] have both gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
