Allium neapolitanum

{{Short description|Species of plant}}

{{Speciesbox

| taxon = Allium neapolitanum

| parent = Allium subg. Amerallium

| image = Ailblanc.jpg

| authority = Cirillo

| synonyms =

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|synonyms_ref=[http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-296083 The Plant List]

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Allium neapolitanum is a bulbous herbaceous perennial plant in the onion subfamily within the Amaryllis family. Common names include Neapolitan garlic,{{BSBI 2007 |accessdate=2014-10-17 }} Naples garlic, daffodil garlic, false garlic, flowering onion, Naples onion, Guernsey star-of-Bethlehem, star, white garlic, and wood garlic.

Description

Allium neapolitanum produces round bulbs up to {{convert|2|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}} across. The scape is up to {{convert|25|cm|in|abbr=on|frac=2}} tall, round in cross-section but sometimes with wings toward the bottom. The inflorescence is an umbel of up to 25 white flowers with yellow anthers.{{Cite web |title=Allium flower, Allium neapolitanum |url=http://www.alliumflower.net/allium_neapolitanum/allium_neapolitanum.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329145237/http://www.alliumflower.net/allium_neapolitanum/allium_neapolitanum.html |archive-date=2010-03-29 |access-date=2010-03-04}}[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242101377 Flora of North America v 26 p 257 Allium neapolitanum]Cirillo, Domenico Maria Leone. 1788. Plantarum Rariorum Regni Neapolitani 1: 13.[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?8349,8354,8396 Hickman, J. C. 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California 1–1400. University of California Press, Berkeley. ]

Allium neapolitanum seems to have beta-adrenergic antagonist properties.{{cite journal|vauthors =Nencini C, Franchi GG, Micheli L|date=June 2010|journal=International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition|volume=61|issue=4|pages=433–9|title=Cardiovascular receptor binding affinity of aqueous extracts from Allium species|pmid=20446820|doi=10.3109/09637481003591608|s2cid=41881100}}

Distribution and habitat

Its native range extends across the Mediterranean Region from Portugal to the Levant.[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do;jsessionid=6ACD213738988E637EEC4C4C809A078C?name_id=296083 Kew Botanical Gardens, World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Allium neapolitanum Cirillo][http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=allium+neapolitanum Altervista Flora Italiana, Allium neapolitanum] The species is cultivated as an ornamental and has become naturalized in many areas, including Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, and in southern and western parts of the United States. It is classed as an invasive species in parts of the U.S.,{{Cite PLANTS |symbol=ALNE3 |taxon=Allium neapolitanum |access-date= }} and is found primarily in the states of California, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

Gallery

Iridaceae - Allium neapolitanum (8303567329).jpg|Flower closeup

Allium neapolitanum.jpg|Flower closeup

Naples garlic.jpg

Allium neapolitanum in early Spring.jpg|In early spring

References

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