AL'LIUM (Lat., garlic). A genus of plants of the natural order Liliacew containing about 250 species of perennial—more rarely biennial— herbaceous plants, with more or less decidedly bulbous roots, natives chiefly of the temperate and colder regions of the northern hemisphere. The flowers are umbellate, with the umbel often bearing also small bulbs along with its flowers. The leaves are generally narrow, although in sonic species, as All inn] ursinum, they are rather broad, and in many species they are rounded and tistulose. Garlic, Allium salirum, Onion (q.v.), .111ium eepa, Leek (q.v.), .411inaz porrum, Shal lot (q.v.), Allium aseolonieum, Chive (q.v.), A/fiani sclarnoprasum, and Rocambole (q.v.), are species of this genus in common cultiva tion. The first four are cultivated in the gar dens of India as well as Europe, along with Allium tuberosum; and the hill-people of India eat the bulbs of Anima leptophyllum, and dry the leaves, and preserve them as a condiment. A number of other species are occasionally used in different countries. Eight or nine species are natives of Britain. of which the most common is Damsons (A Ilium ursinum), a species with much broader leaves than most of its congeners. It is most frequently found in moist woods and hedge-banks, but occasionally in pastures, in which it proves a troublesome weed, communi cating its powerful odor of garlic to the whole dairy produce. Crow garlic, or Wild Onion
rincale), another British species. is sometimes very troublesome in the same way in drier pastures. Both are perennial, and to get rid of them their bulbs must be perseveringly rooted out when the leaves begin to appear in spring. This species has been introduced into the eastern part of the United States, where it is troublesome in lawns, parks, and pastures. A small quantity of carbolic acid injected into the cluster is said to destroy them. A large number of species are indigenous to the United States, the more eommon being Allium Calm dense, Allium eernuum, Allium which latter has flat leaves one to two inches broad, and five to nine inches long; Allimn retieulatum, which has its bulbs covered with a dense fibrous coat, etc. A number of species are grown in doors or as ornamental plants in gardens. Among these Allium Neapolitanum is one of the best. If grown out-doors it needs protection in most localities in the United States.