PALE GARLIC

Allium paniculatum

Onion & Garlic Family [Alliaceae]

month8jul month8july month8aug month8sep month8sept

status
statusZneophyte		 flower
flower8white		 inner
inner8pink		 inner
inner8red		 inner
inner8cream		 morph
morph8actino		 petals
petalsZ6		 type
typeZglobed		 type
typeZbell		 stem
stem8round

28th Aug 2017, a farmers field, South of Buxton, White Peaks. Photo: © RWD
An introduced but now naturalised neophyte with stems up to 70cm tall. It has two long straight spathes sticking out from below the inflorescence (much longer than the inflorescence) which once encapsulated the flower buds. [One has since fallen off]. The leaves (none seen) are similar to those of Keeled Garlic.


28th Aug 2017, a farmers field, South of Buxton, White Peaks. Photo: © RWD
The flower forms a floppy globe, with the heavier flowers drooping on their long flower stalks.


28th Aug 2017, a farmers field, South of Buxton, White Peaks. Photo: © RWD
The 'petals' (actually tepals) of Pale Garlic are usually dirty-white to yellowish brown, but sometimes pink or green-tinged. They are 5 to 6mm long. A large green ovary lurks in deep within (which will become the fruit) from which the stigma protrudes.


28th Aug 2017, a farmers field, South of Buxton, White Peaks. Photo: © RWD
The filaments are simple and have a T-anther attached. They are supposed to be equal in length or slightly shorter than the tepals, but here they protrude slightly. The flowers are cupped by a long floppy golf-tee with a very small cup shape at the end.


28th Aug 2017, a farmers field, South of Buxton, White Peaks. Photo: © RWD
The stamens here protrude slightly, when according to the book, they shouldn't.


28th Aug 2017, a farmers field, South of Buxton, White Peaks. Photo: © RWD
There may, or might not, be a few elongated and pointed bulbils at the centre.

Some similarities to : Keeled Garlic (Allium carinatum) but that does have the anthers protruding slightly (er - um - but it looks like the above specimen does too).

It is said that in the UK Pale Garlic is present as the sub-species fuscum while other sub-species can have white or pink or purple tepals. Since the above are white pink and purple (and not dirty-white to yellowish brown) perhaps this specimen is not ssp. fuscum, but one of those others?

It grows alongside roads or at the base of hedges.

  Allium paniculatum  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Alliaceae  

Distribution
family8Onion & Garlic family8Alliaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Allium
Allium
(Onions)

PALE GARLIC

Allium paniculatum

Onion & Garlic Family [Alliaceae]