Chinese leek

''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 plant growing from a small, elongated bulb (about , across) that is tough and fibrous. Unlike either onion or garlic, it has strap-shaped leaves with triangular bases, about wide. It produces many white flowers in a round cluster (umbel) on stalks tall. It grows in slowly expanding perennial clumps, but also readily sprouts from seed. In warmer areas (USDA zone 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 chives.

Taxonomy

Originally described by Johan Peter Rottler, the species name was validly published by Curt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel 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, but is widely cultivated and naturalised. It has been reported as growing wild in scattered locations in the United States (Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Nebraska, Alabama, Iowa, Arkansas, and Wisconsin). 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 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 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, scallions 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 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 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 soups and salads, stir-fries with eggs, and Japanese dishes such as gyōza dumplings and fried liver.

Central Asia

In Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, where the plant has been introduced through cultivation by Dungan 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'', pickled as kimchi and ''jangajji'', and pan-fried in ''buchimgae'' (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'' (garlic chive fresh kimchi)
File:Korean.cuisine-Buchu kimchi-01.jpg, ''Buchu-kimchi'' (garlic chive kimchi)
File:Chueotang chopi (Zanthoxylum piperitum) deulkkae (Perilla frutescens) buchu (Allium tuberosum).jpg, ''Chueo-tang'' (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, the leaves of garlic chives, known as ''hẹ'', are cut up into short pieces and used as the only vegetable in a broth with sliced pork kidneys.

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

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Websites

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''Allium tuberosum'' Rottl. ex Spreng.
Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University)
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External links

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{{Authority control

tuberosum
Asian vegetables
Herbs
Flora of temperate Asia
Plants described in 1825