''Allium tuberosum'' (garlic chives, Oriental garlic, Asian chives, Chinese chives, Chinese leek) is a species of plant native to the Chinese province of
Shanxi, and cultivated and
naturalized elsewhere in Asia and around the world.
Description
''Allium tuberosum'' is a rhizomatous, clump-forming
perennial
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wid ...
plant growing from a small, elongated
bulb (about , across) that is tough and fibrous. Unlike either
onion
An onion (''Allium cepa'' L., from Latin ''cepa'' meaning "onion"), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the most widely cultivated species of the genus ''Allium''. The shallot is a botanical variety of the onio ...
or
garlic, it has strap-shaped leaves with triangular bases, about wide. It produces many white flowers in a round cluster (
umbel
In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin ''umbella'' "p ...
) on
stalks tall.
It grows in slowly expanding perennial clumps, but also readily sprouts from seed. In warmer areas (
USDA zone
A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most wide ...
8 and warmer), garlic chives may remain green all year round. In cold areas (USDA zones 7 to 4b), leaves and stalks completely die back to the ground, and resprout from roots or rhizomes in the spring.
The flavor is more like garlic than
chive
Chives, scientific name ''Allium schoenoprasum'', is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae that produces edible leaves and flowers. Their close relatives include the common onions, garlic, shallot, leek, scallion, and ...
s.
Taxonomy
Originally described by
Johan Peter Rottler, the species name was validly published by
Curt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel
Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel (3 August 1766 – 15 March 1833) was a German botanist and physician who published an influential multivolume history of medicine, ''Versuch einer pragmatischen Geschichte der Arzneikunde'' (1792–99 in four vo ...
in 1825. ''A. tuberosum'' is classified within ''Allium'' in
subgenus ''Butomissa''
(Salisb.) N. Friesen, section ''Butomissa''
(Salisb.) Kamelin, a group consisting of only ''A. tuberosum'' and ''
A. ramosum''
L., which have been variously regarded as either one or two genetic entities.
Distribution and habitat
''Allium tuberosum'' originated in the Siberian–Mongolian–North Chinese
steppes
In physical geography, a steppe () is an ecoregion characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes.
Steppe biomes may include:
* the montane grasslands and shrublands biome
* the temperate grassland ...
, but is widely cultivated and naturalised. It has been reported as growing wild in scattered locations in the United States (
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
,
Michigan
Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...
,
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
,
Nebraska
Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...
,
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
,
Iowa
Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...
,
Arkansas
Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...
, and
Wisconsin
Wisconsin () is a state in the upper Midwestern United States. Wisconsin is the 25th-largest state by total area and the 20th-most populous. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake M ...
). However, it is believed to be more widespread in North America because of the availability of seeds and seedlings of this species as an exotic herb and because of its high aggressiveness. This species is also widespread across much of mainland Europe and invasive in other areas of the world.
Ecology
A late summer- to autumn-blooming plant, ''A. tuberosum'' is one of several ''Allium'' species known as wild onion and/or wild garlic that, in various parts of the world, such as Australia, are listed as
noxious weeds or as invasive "serious high impact environmental and/or agricultural weeds that spread rapidly and often create monocultures".
Cultivation
Often grown as an
ornamental plant
Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...
in gardens, several
cultivars are available. ''A. tuberosum'' is distinctive by blooming later than most native or naturalised species of ''Allium''. It is cold-hardy to USDA zones 4–10 (). Garlic chives are regarded as easy to grow in many conditions and may spread readily by seeds or can be intentionally propagated by dividing their clumps.
A number of varieties have been developed for either improved leaf (''e.g.'' 'Shiva') or flower stem (''e.g.'' 'Nien Hua') production. While the emphasis in Asia has been primarily culinary, in North America, the interest has been more as an ornamental. 'Monstrosum' is a giant ornamental cultivar.
Uses
Uses have included as ornamental plants, including cut and dried flowers, culinary herbs, and Garlic chives have been widely cultivated for centuries in
East Asia
East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both Geography, geographical and culture, ethno-cultural terms. The modern State (polity), states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. ...
for their culinary value. The flat leaves, the stalks, and immature, unopened flower buds are used as flavouring. Another form is "blanched" by regrowing after cutting under cover to produce white-yellow leaves and a subtler flavor.
China
The leaves are used as a flavoring in a similar way to chives,
scallion
Scallions (also known as spring onions or green onions) are vegetables derived from various species in the genus '' Allium''. Scallions generally have a milder taste than most onions and their close relatives include garlic, shallot, leek, c ...
s as a
stir fry ingredient. In China, they are often used to make
dumplings with eggs, shrimp, and/or pork. A Chinese flatbread similar to the
scallion pancake may be made with garlic chives instead of scallions. Garlic chives are also one of the main ingredients used with
yi mein
Yi mein () is a variety of flat Cantonese egg noodles made from wheat flour. They are known for their golden brown color and chewy characteristics. The slightly chewy and slightly spongy texture of the noodles is due to the soda water used in ...
dishes. Its flowers are fermented to make
garlic chive flower sauce (韭花酱). When grown in dark environments, it is known as ''jiuhuang'' (韭黄) and is used in various
stir fry dishes.
India
In
Manipur
Manipur () ( mni, Kangleipak) is a state in Northeast India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. It is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west. It also borders two regions of ...
and other northeastern states of India, it is grown and used as a substitute for garlic and onion in cooking and is known as ''maroi nakuppi'' in Manipuri.
Japan
In Japan, where the plant is known as ''nira'', it is used for both garlic and sweet flavors, in
miso soup
is a traditional Japanese soup consisting of a dashi stock into which softened miso paste is mixed. In addition, there are many optional ingredients (various vegetables, tofu, '' abura-age'', etc.) that may be added depending on regional a ...
s and salads, stir-fries with eggs, and Japanese dishes such as
gyōza
''Jiaozi'' (; ; pinyin: jiǎozi) are Chinese dumplings commonly eaten in China and other parts of East Asia. ''Jiaozi'' are folded to resemble Chinese sycee and have great cultural significance attached to them within China. ''Jiaozi'' are ...
dumplings and fried liver.
Central Asia
In
Central Asia
Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...
n countries such as
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbeki ...
and
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan,, pronounced or the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and the People's Republic of China to the ea ...
, where the plant has been introduced through cultivation by
Dungan Dungan may refer to:
* Donegan, an Irish surname, sometimes spelled Dungan
* Dungan people, a group of Muslim people of Hui origin
** Dungan language
** Dungan, sometimes used to refer to Hui Chinese people generally
* Dungan Mountains in Sibi Dist ...
farmers and ties with neighboring China, garlic chives are known by transliterations of their name. Used in cooking, it is sometimes added as a filling to
manty,
samsa,
laghman, yuta, ashlan-fu,
and other typical dishes.
Korea
Known as ''buchu'' (), garlic chives are widely used in
Korean cuisine. They can be eaten fresh as ''
namul
Namul ( ko, 나물) refers to either a variety of edible grass or leaves or seasoned herbal dishes made of them. Wild greens are called ''san-namul'' (, "mountain namul"), and spring vegetables are called ''bom-namul'' (, "spring namul"). On t ...
'', pickled as
kimchi
''Kimchi'' (; ko, 김치, gimchi, ), is a traditional Korean side dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish. A wide selection of seasonings are used, including '' gochugaru'' (Korean chili powder), ...
and ''
jangajji
''Jangajji'' () or pickled vegetables is a type of ''banchan'' (side dish) made by pickling vegetables.
* Unlike kimchi, ''jangajji'' is non-fermented vegetables, usually pickled in soy sauce, soybean paste, or chili paste. ''Jangajji'' dishe ...
'', and pan-fried in ''
buchimgae
''Buchimgae'' (), or Korean pancake, refers broadly to any type of pan-fried ingredients soaked in egg or a batter mixed with other ingredients. More specifically, it is a dish made by pan-frying a thick batter mixed with egg and other ingredie ...
'' (pancake). they are also one of the most common herbs served with ''
gukbap'' (soup with rice), as well as a common ingredient in ''
mandu'' (dumplings).
File:Buchujeon(garlic chive pancake).jpg, ''Buchu- jeon'' (garlic chive pancakes)
File:Buchu-geotjeori.jpg, ''Buchu-geotjeori
''Kimchi'' (; ko, 김치, gimchi, ), is a traditional Korean side dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish. A wide selection of seasonings are used, including ''gochugaru'' (Korean chili powder), sprin ...
'' (garlic chive fresh kimchi)
File:Korean.cuisine-Buchu kimchi-01.jpg, ''Buchu-kimchi
''Kimchi'' (; ko, 김치, gimchi, ), is a traditional Korean side dish of salted and fermented vegetables, such as napa cabbage and Korean radish. A wide selection of seasonings are used, including '' gochugaru'' (Korean chili powder), ...
'' (garlic chive kimchi)
File:Chueotang chopi (Zanthoxylum piperitum) deulkkae (Perilla frutescens) buchu (Allium tuberosum).jpg, ''Chueo-tang
''Chueo-tang'' () or loach soup is a ''guk, tang'' (soup) made from pond loach, a freshwater fish.
* The southwestern Korean city of Namwon is known for its version of the dish.
Etymology
''Chueo'' () is a nickname for pond loach, called ''m ...
'' (loach soup) served with garlic chives
File:Jaecheop-guk.png, '' Jaecheop-guk'' ( jaecheop clam soup) with chopped garlic chives in it
Nepal
In Nepal, cooks fry a curried vegetable dish of potatoes and ''A. tuberosum'' known as ''dunduko sag''.
Vietnam
In
Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
, the leaves of garlic chives, known as ''hẹ'', are cut up into short pieces and used as the only vegetable in a
broth
Broth, also known as bouillon (), is a savory liquid made of water in which meat, fish or vegetables have been simmered for a short period of time. It can be eaten alone, but it is most commonly used to prepare other dishes, such as soups, ...
with sliced pork
kidney
The kidneys are two reddish-brown bean-shaped organs found in vertebrates. They are located on the left and right in the retroperitoneal space, and in adult humans are about in length. They receive blood from the paired renal arteries; blo ...
s.
Gallery
File:Allium tuberosum by Taraxacumseeds 01.jpg, Growing as garden herb
File:Cut Garlic Chives.jpg, Prepared for cooking
File:Chive flower.jpg, Inflorescence
File:Allium tuberosum by Taraxacumseeds 02.jpg, Individual flower
File:Chive seeds.jpg, Seeds of garlic chives
File:Allium tuberosum MHNT.BOT.2013.22.61.jpg, Fruit and seeds
References
Bibliography
Books and monographs
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Articles and chapters
*
*
*
*
* in
* , in
Websites
*
*
*
*
*
*
''Allium tuberosum'' Rottl. ex Spreng.Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
External links
*
*
*
{{Authority control
tuberosum
Asian vegetables
Herbs
Flora of temperate Asia
Plants described in 1825