Characteristics
A perennial herb. It grows to 0.45 m tall and spreads to 0.3 m wide. The stem is erect and has flowers. The bulb is about 35 mm across. The leaves are narrow and long. The flowers are greenish brown on the lower part of the flower stalk and purple or blue on the upper part. The flowers point upwards and occur at the tip of the plant.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
herb
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
deciduous
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
entomogamy
|
| Spread |
barochory
|
| Mature width (meter) |
0.1 - 0.4
|
| Mature height (meter) |
0.38 - 0.5
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
|
| Blooming months |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | | Apr | May | Jun | | Jul | Aug | Sep | | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
c3
|
Environment
It is a temperate plant. It suits light soils which are well drained but moist. It needs a sheltered position and can grow in light shade. It can survive frost but cannot tolerate drought. It can grow in arid places.
| Light |
|
| Soil humidity |
|
| Soil texture |
|
| Soil acidity |
|
| Soil nutriment |
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The bulbs cooked and preserved in oil are used in relish. The stems and leaves are eaten as a green vegetable. The bulb is collected before flowering and boiled or fried then eaten. It is used in omelettes, soups and sauces. It can be roasted or preserved in vinegar. It can replace onions.
Cultivation
It is grown by dividing the bulbs. This is done after the leaves have died down. It can be sown from seed. The seed germinate in 2-3 months. Seedlings need to be left undisturbed for the first year then the small bulbs can be replanted.
| Mode |
divisions
seedlings
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
5
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-18
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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