Allium chamaemoly, called dwarf garlic, is a species of garlic native to the Mediterranean region and cultivated elsewhere for its pretty flowers and potently aromatic bulbs. It is found in the wild in Spain (incl Balearic Islands), France (incl Corsica), Malta, Italy (inc Sardinia and Sicily), Greece, the Balkans, Algeria, and Morocco.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant FamiliesBailey, L.H. & E.Z. Bailey. 1976. Hortus Third i–xiv, 1–1290. MacMillan, New York.Altervisea, Schede di Botanica, Allium chamaemolyMaire, René Charles Joseph Ernest & Weiller, Marc. 1958. Flore d'Afrique du Nord 5: 286.Wild Plants of Malta, dwarf garlic
Allium chamaemoly is a small plant growing from an underground bulb. Scape is very short or completely absent, so that the umbel forms at ground level. Tepals are white, usually with a purple midvein. Leaves are flat and grass-like, often with long white hairs.Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 301.
Two formal botanical varieties are recognized: Allium chamaemoly subsp. chamaemoly - most of European species range but not North Africa Allium chamaemoly subsp. longicaulis Pastor & Valdés - Spain (incl Balearic Is), Algeria, Morocco
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