Allium scorodoprasum

Right: Snake leek (Allium scorodoprasum ) Illustration by Otto Wilhelm Thomé

The Serpent garlic ( Allium scorodoprasum ), also called Alpine chives, is a species of the genus Allium (Allium ).

Description

The Serpent leek is a perennial herbaceous plant, reaching a height of up to 100 ( sometimes 150) centimeters. He is a Geophyt and forms onion as Überdauerungsorgene. The up to 40 -inch-long leaves are rough on the edge and on the median nerve.

The flowering period extends from May to August. The inflorescence is surrounded by two long-lasting bracts. The stalked, purple flower is mostly barren. The stamens are shorter than the perianth purple. The brown -skinned onions reach a diameter 6-10 cm. Generate a new bulb side in the development of the stem.

Ecology

The Serpent leek thrives particularly well in sunny locations on light to medium soils. Pollination is by small insects. Also, self-pollination is possible. For fruit set occurs appear to be rare. But plenty of red-brown bulbils are formed in the inflorescence; it is therefore a Pseudoviviparie be converted in flower plants in small, stunted shoot axes. Its propagation is done with flowing water, but probably also by hiding distribution and random distribution by animals.

Occurrence and Protection

The Serpent leek is spread throughout Europe including the British Isles, also in West Asia, such as in Syria.

In the foothills of the Snake leek is endangered ( Red List of Threatened Species ), also for Lower Bavaria he is 'at risk' out.

Use

The bulbs of the Snake leeks are both raw and cooked edible. You are in taste the garlic (Allium sativum ) is similar but not as intense. Use to find the onions especially in salads.

The bulbs also have medical benefits. They promote digestion and disinfectant. Use will snakes and leek in the treatment of abscesses and amoebic dysentery. The juice from the onions affects insect- expelling.

Trivial names

More in part only regional common names for the snakes and leek are or have been: But garlic, Abrauch, field garlic and rock Bollen ( Pomerania ).

Swell

• Ruprecht Duell, Herfried Kutzelnigg: Pocket Dictionary of Plants in Germany and neighboring countries. The most common central European species in the portrait. 7, revised and expanded edition. Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2011, ISBN 978-3-494-01424-1. (Section Ecology )
• Entry at Plants for a Future Database. ( Use section)
• Entry at flora.nhm.wien.ac.at. ( Description section )