Family: Alliaceae — onion family

Species in the Alliaceae are perennial herbs. The leaves grow from a bulb at the base of the plant. The leaves vary from flat to circular in cross-section and may be hollow, with parallel veins running lengthwise along the blade. The leaves have an onion-like or garlic-like scent when crushed. The flowers are clustered in an umbel at the top of the flowering stem; sometimes the flowers are replaced by small bulbs that can reproduce vegetatively. The flowers are actinomorphic (radially symmetrical) and have both pollen-bearing and ovule-bearing parts. The sepals and petals are similar in appearance. There are 6 stamens and 1 style. The ovary is composed of 3 carpels. The fruit is a dry capsule containing black seeds that may be winged. The family was formerly included in a broadly defined Liliaceae.

This family’s genera in New England

• Allium

Visit this family in the Dichotomous Key

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