| Allium inutile | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Allioideae |
| Genus: | Allium |
| Species: | A. inutile |
| Binomial name | |
| Allium inutile | |
| Synonyms [1] [2] | |
| |
Allium inutile is a species of wild onion native to Honshu Island in Japan and to Anhui Province of southeastern China. [3] [4]
The scientific name translates as "useless onion" in reference to the fact that this is one of the few members of the 900-member genus Allium lacking the characteristic onion or garlic scent. [5]
Allium inutile produces a single round to egg-shaped bulb up to 13 mm across. Scape is up to 30 cm tall, round in cross-section but with ribs along the edges. Leaves are tubular, up to 30 cm long. Umbel is rather small, with only 4-7 white flowers. [5] [6] [7]