There are hundreds of species in the monocotyledonous flowering plant genus Allium, including the cultivated varieties of onion, garlic, scallion, shallot, leek, and chives. The Latin term for garlic, Allium, serves as the generic name for the genus, while Allium sativum, which translates to “cultivated garlic,” is the type species for the genus. [6]
The genus Allium was initially described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Greek (aleo, to avoid) is referred to in some accounts as a result of the scent of garlic. [7] Since the beginning of time, different Allium species have been farmed. Approximately a dozen species are economically significant as crops, or garden vegetables, and an increasing number of species are significant as aesthetic plants. [7] [8]
It is taxonomically challenging to decide which species to place in the genus Allium, because the boundaries between different species are not always evident. There are estimates for as few as 260[9] and as many as 979 species. [10]
Except for a few species that grow in Chile, Brazil, and tropical Africa, allium species are found in temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. These species include A. juncifolium, A. sellovianum, and A. sellovianum (A. spathaceum). They range in height from 5 to 150 cm. An umbel of flowers grows at the tip of a stalk devoid of leaves. The size of the bulbs varies depending on the species, ranging from little (about 23 mm in diameter) to very large (810 cm). Leeks (A. ampeloprasum) and Welsh onions (A. fistulosum) are two examples of species that produce enlarged leaf bases rather than true bulbs.
Allium plants contain chemical compounds that give them a distinctive onion or garlic flavor and odor, which are primarily derived from cysteine sulfoxides.
[7] Despite the fact that not all species in the genus have the same flavor, several are used as food plants. Most of the time, both the bulb and the leaves are edible. The amount of sulfates in the soil the plant grows in affects the flavor of alliums. [7] Allium species totally lose their typical pungent qualities when growth conditions are sulfur-free, which happens infrequently.
What are the uses of allium?
The hilly areas of Middle and South-West Asia were believed to contain about 200 different Allium species [1]. In certain Asian populations, the usage of particularly palatable and therapeutic members of this family has a lengthy tradition and appears to have profound historical roots. This presumption might be demonstrated by the observation that people have long known how to produce specialty cuisines using particular plants in metropolitan locations. They purchase the necessary plant material from rural suppliers who gathered it in the wild and sell it at local marketplaces. Additionally, there are historic accounts of ancient civilizations in this region related to the common onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (A. sativum L.). Although the wild ancestors of the most significant farmed Allium species in the world have not yet been positively identified, the genetically and phylogenetically closest related plants are only found in this region of Asia [2].
The two Allium crop species that are most economically significant (common onion and garlic) are used all over the world as spices, vegetables, and medicinal herbs. They traditionally play a significant part in Asia’s everyday diet as well. They can be found growing in every backyard garden. This is also true for Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, where young fresh plants (Fig. (Fig.1)1) and dry bulbs are frequently utilized as medicinal herbs and are sold in every local market. The extensive range of medicinal attributes of both crop types was detailed in a relatively recent review [3].
Garlic – an Allium?
Undoubtedly one of the most well-known herbs in the world is garlic (Allium sativum). This perennial plant, which is typically planted as an annual, yields edible bulbs made up of many cloves. It is generally accepted that the wild garlic A. longicuspis is where garlic originated. Garlic’s precise origin is unknown, but it once flourished wild across a sizable region, from Siberia to India to Egypt to Central Europe, and it then moved to southern Europe. Today, it is still grown in the majority of Mediterranean nations. It is likely that garlic originated in south-central Asia, in the “the southern Caucasus Mountains of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan; beyond the Caspian Sea in the Kopet Dagh Mountains of northern Persia (Iran); into the southern portions of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan; to the Hindu Kush Mountains through northern Afghanistan; and on through Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the Pamir Mountains, and the Tien Shan Mountains of China. Garlic presumably originated in the rough foothills of these numerous Himalayan mountain ranges, despite the fact that it was known to all early civilized peoples, including the Babylonians, Egyptians, Romans, and Chinese.
Regardless of its true origin, this onion family member has been used for thousands of years for both culinary and medicinal purposes. The volatile oil of garlic has a lot of sulfur-containing chemicals, but less sulfuric acid than onions, which is what gives garlic its pungent smell and many of the same health advantages.
Wild garlic originated in severe continental climates with long, chilly winters and hot, dry summers with lots of sunlight. The root system would reach maturity in the late spring, remain dormant until the cooler, moister fall, and then start a new cycle of root development. Before the soil dried out and the sweltering sun arrived, plants would quickly produce bulbs and sprout branches in the early spring. Garlic had to adjust to year-round rain, cooler summers, and/or milder, wetter winters when it was transported to the Mediterranean and continental Europe. The diversification of the types we have now most likely resulted from this exposure to a range of environmental environments.
Even specialists are unclear about the true relationships between the hundreds of distinct types of garlic, in part because the local environment affects the traits of different garlic varieties. Numerous types have common names that don’t necessarily reflect their true ancestry. For instance, the title “Numerous kinds have been given the Italian appellation only because Italian immigrants brought them here, not because they were originally from that country.
Since garlic can no longer generate fertile seeds, it can only be propagated from the bulbs.
In certain variants, neither flower stalks nor flowers are even produced. Today’s wide range of options is probably the product of random mutations. Broadly speaking, there are two types of garlic: hardneck (subspecies ophioscorodon) and softneck (subspecies sativum).
- The most widely cultivated hardneck garlic, rocamboles (R), has a superb flavor. The term “Rocambole” has caused some confusion because it has also been used to refer to the Allium species A. scorodoprasum. Dark green or blue green foliage, a moderate amount of spreading, and a tightly coiled flower stalk with one to three loops are all characteristics of rocambole garlic. The bulbs have 6–11 plump, dull-colored, simple-to-peel cloves and are off-white with varying levels of purple flush or streaks. Since their root growth starts in the early fall, they typically have a short season of 3 to 4 months before their quality degrades while being stored.
- In North America, porcelain (P) garlics are not particularly prevalent. Their pale to deep green leaves and looping or asymmetrically coiled scapes give them a greater stature than Rocamboles. The 4-6 huge cloves in the satiny white bulbs are harder to peel than the Rocamboles (but easier than softnecks). For 4 to 8 months, these varieties last longer in storage than Rocamboles. Frequently weak when harvested, their flavor develops after storage.
- Both the skin of the cloves and the bulb wrappers of purple striped (PS) or purple streaked garlics show vivid purple stripes and blotches. They have a strong flavor and typically have between 8 and 12 cloves. These varieties peel just as readily and preserve a little bit longer than Rocamboles. Compared to Rocambole varieties, the plant’s leaves grow at broader angles to the stem, and the scapes frequently form complete 270-degree curves.
Softneck species can be braided because they typically don’t form a scape. They normally yield 10 to 40 cloves and can frequently be kept for 6 to 9 months in storage. These large-bulbed, rough-skinned garlics thrive in a variety of climatic conditions and soil types. Most cloves have three to five layers. They typically lack the hardneck garlic’s flavor and instead have a highly fiery or extremely mild flavor. A cold winter climate tends to intensify the flavor. These species do better in climates with lengthy growing seasons and mild winters. They can also be divided into two groups:
- Generally upright plants, artichoke (A) garlics rarely have a flower stem and have average to somewhat pale green leaves (occurs occasionally in some climates or on some individual plants). The cloves are typically milky white and have white bulbs, while some have a pink or brown blush or a partial stripe. The skins are hard to peel because of how firmly they attach. Cloves are arranged in two layers, with the inner ones being tall, thin, and narrow, and the outside ones being plump, squarish. Depending on the strain and environment, the flavor can range from moderate to spicy. These are the varieties of garlic that are grown commercially in California and are the most adapted.
- White or pink tinged bulbs with 8–12 or 18–24 cloves, depending on the variety, are produced by silverskin (S) garlics, which also frequently have pale green leaves and infrequently make a flower stalk. Their flavors range from quite mild to extremely hot, and they work best in moderate winter settings.
Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) is a sort of leek rather than a real garlic. The enormous bulbs, which have 5–6 cloves, can weigh up to a pound. Although the flavor is far milder than actual garlic, cold temperatures can sometimes cause a strong or bitter taste to develop.
The majority of commercially produced garlic is grown in milder regions of California, primarily in the San Joaquin Valley and near Gilroy (“The Garlic Capitol of the World”) in southern Santa Clara County. The cultivars grown there, including “California Early” and “California Late,” do not adapt to our cooler temperature well, and if they do grow at all, they typically take on an extremely spicy flavor. It is not advised to plant garlic cloves from store-bought bulbs. Numerous more cultivars that are frequently more flavorful than those cultivated in warm areas and are considerably better suited to growth in cold climates have been chosen over the years. Selecting the right variety, however, can be challenging because varietal traits—from flower stalk development to taste—can differ from region to region and are frequently renamed to reflect where they are grown.
The following kinds are suggested for Wisconsin:
- Brown cloves without stripes and a tinge of pink blush are known as “Brown Tempest” (PS). The purple-spattered bulbs typically include 6 cloves. When eaten raw, it has a spicy flavor, but that flavor mellows to leave a pleasant aftertaste. Much longer than many hardnecks, it stores.
- Chesnock Red (PS), a reliable performer that maintains its shape and flavor after cooking. 8–12 cloves are contained in purple-striped wrappers. In storage, a flavor’s heat and zing soften.
- Large, spotless white bulbs with 4–7 cloves and a gentle yet strong flavor are known as “Georgian Crystal” (P). Even when consumed raw, it has a moderate flavor, making it a wonderful addition to recipes like pesto, salsa, etc.
- From Central Europe, “German Extra Hardy” (P) contains 4–7 large, flavorful, spicy white cloves. As much of the flavor is lost when cooking, it is best used raw.