Allium

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{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Allium | image = Alliumvineale1web.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = Crow Garlic (Allium vineale) flowerhead, showing sprouting bulbils | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Liliopsida | ordo = Asparagales | familia = Alliaceae | subfamilia = Allioideae | tribus = Allieae | genus = Allium | genus_authority = L. | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = Some important species:
Allium acuminatum - tapertip onion
Allium ampeloprasum

A. a. var. ampeloprasum - elephant garlic

A. a. var. kurrat - kurrat

A. a. var. porrum - leek

Allium anceps - twinleaf onion
Allium angulosum - mouse garlic
Allium ascalonicum - shallot
Allium atrorubens - dark red onion
Allium campanulatum - dusky onion
Allium canadense - Canadian garlic
Allium cepa - garden onion
Allium neapolitanum - white garlic
Allium nevii - Nevius' garlic
Allium nigrum - black garlic
Allium oleraceum - field garlic
Allium ramosum - Chinese chives
Allium sativum - cultivated garlic
Allium schoenoprasum - chives
Allium scorodoprasum - Sand leek Allium triquetrum - three-cornered leek, triquetous garlic
Allium tuberosum - Chinese chives
Allium ursinum - wild garlic, ramsons
Allium vineale - crow garlic
See full list.
}}

Allium is the onion genus with about 1250 species, usually classified in its own family Alliaceae. Some botanists used to classify it in the lily family (Liliaceae).

They are perennial bulbous plants. They occur in temperate climates of the northern hemisphere, except for a few species occurring in Chile (as Allium juncifolium), Brazil (Allium sellovianum) or tropical Africa (Allium spathaceum). They can vary in height between 5 cm and 150 cm. The flowers form an umbel at the top of a leafless stalk. The bulbs vary in size between species, from very small (around 2–3 mm in diameter) to rather big (8–10 cm). Some species (such as chives, A. schoenoprasum) develop thickened leaf-bases rather than forming bulbs as such.

Most bulbous alliums increase by forming little bulbs or "offsets" around the old one, as well as by seed. Several species can form many bulbils (tiny bulbs) in the flowerhead; in the so-called "tree onion" (A. cepa Proliferum Group) the bulbils are few, but large enough to be used for pickling.

Members of the genus include many valued vegetables such as onions, shallots, leeks and herbs such as garlic and chives. A strong "oniony" odor is characteristic of the whole genus but not all members are equally flavorful.

Image:Allium giganteum1.jpg

Some Allium species, including A. cristophii and A. giganteum, are used as border plants for their "architectural" qualities. Several hybrids have been bred, or selected, with rich purple flowers. Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' is one of the most popular and has been given an Award of Garden Merit (H4). By contrast, other species can become troublesome garden weeds.

Various Allium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera including Cabbage Moth, Common Swift (recorded on garlic), Garden Dart, Large Yellow Underwing, The Nutmeg, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Turnip Moth.

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