Allium neapolitanum
Encyclopedia
Allium neapolitanum is a perennial
bulb
ous plant of the genus
Allium
, the onion family. It is native to southern Europe, north Africa, and the Middle East. It is classed as an invasive species
in parts of the U.S., and is found primarily in the U.S. states of California
, Texas
, Louisiana
, and Florida
. It has been called Nothoscordum
inodorum.
It is cultivated by gardeners for its ornamental value. It bears large heads of pure white flowers in early spring, and is suitable for borders, pots, or forcing in a cool house. Allium neapolitanum typically grows to a height of between 12 and 18 inches.
There are several varieties of A. neapolitanum, including:
Allium neapolitanum seems to have beta-adrenergic antagonist properties.
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
bulb
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
ous plant of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Allium
Allium
Allium is a monocot genus of flowering plants, informally referred to as the onion genus. The generic name Allium is the Latin word for garlic....
, the onion family. It is native to southern Europe, north Africa, and the Middle East. It is classed as an invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
in parts of the U.S., and is found primarily in the U.S. states of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It has been called Nothoscordum
Nothoscordum
Nothoscordum is a genus in the flowering plant family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Allioideae. It is probably paraphyletic.-Species:According to the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families , the family contains the following species:...
inodorum.
It is cultivated by gardeners for its ornamental value. It bears large heads of pure white flowers in early spring, and is suitable for borders, pots, or forcing in a cool house. Allium neapolitanum typically grows to a height of between 12 and 18 inches.
There are several varieties of A. neapolitanum, including:
- Allium neapolitanum ssp. philippi
- Allium neapolitanum ssp. grandiflorum
Allium neapolitanum seems to have beta-adrenergic antagonist properties.