Allium up close

A photo of an Allium flower from my archives, taken on 8 August 2012 at the Reader Rock Garden. I haven't yet been anywhere this spring where there are garden flowers, but I would imagine that at least a few early bloomers have flowered, such as Hepatica.

"Allium is a monocot genus of flowering plants, informally referred to as the onion genus. The generic name Allium, the Latin word for garlic, is said to come from the Greek αλεω, to avoid, because of its offensive smell. The genus, including the various edible onions, garlics, chives, scallion and leeks, has played a pivotal role in cooking worldwide, as the various parts of the plants, either raw or cooked in many ways, produce a large variety of flavors and textures.

The genus contains hundreds of distinct species; many have been harvested through human history, but only about a dozen are still economically important today as crops or garden vegetables. Many others are cultivated as ornamental plants." From Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium