Family: Amaryllidaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. pl. 1:296. 1753
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Allium
Vegetable: True
Observations: C. Asia to NE. Iran
Description
Garlic, known scientifically as Allium sativum, is a perennial plant that belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. This herbaceous plant has been cherished for its distinctive flavor and health benefits for centuries. Although its exact origin remains a topic of debate among botanists, it is widely believed that garlic hails from Central Asia, extending to Northeastern Iran.
Garlic grows from a bulb, which is composed of numerous fleshy cloves enclosed in a paper-like husk. When planted, each clove can produce a new bulb, making garlic both easy to propagate and cultivate. The plant also features long, flat, and linear leaves, along with a flowering stalk that sometimes bears small, pinkish to white blooms.
The culinary value of garlic cannot be overstated. Its pungent taste and aroma make it a staple ingredient in a multitude of cuisines around the world. From enhancing the richness of Italian pasta sauces to adding a subtle kick to Asian stir-fries, garlic’s versatility makes it indispensable in the kitchen.
Beyond its culinary applications, garlic has long been revered for its medicinal properties. Ancient civilizations including the Egyptians, Greeks, and Chinese recognized its potential in treating various ailments. Modern science corroborates many of these traditional uses, indicating that garlic has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Additionally, compounds such as allicin contribute to garlic’s potential in promoting cardiovascular health, lowering cholesterol levels, and boosting the immune system.
In the context of horticulture, garlic is relatively hardy and can thrive in a variety of soils, though it prefers well-drained, fertile substrates. It is typically planted in the fall in cooler climates and can take about eight to nine months to mature.
Ultimately, garlic is more than just a common kitchen spice; it is a plant of immense botanical interest and practical utility. From its origins in Central Asia to its widespread use today, garlic continues to be a potent force in both gastronomy and natural medicine.
Common Names
Fra: ail, ail commun, ail cultivé, ail blanc
Eng: cultivated garlic, garlic, garden garlic
Deu: knoblauch
Tur: sarmisak disi
Mlt: tewm
Spa: ajo
Por: alho, alho-comum, alho-de-cabeça
Ara: thoum
Swe: vitlök
Nld: knoflook
Cym: craf, craf eurinog, craf y gerddi, garlleg, garlleg cenin ewinog
En: Garlic, Cultivated garlic, Hardneck Garlic, Pskem River Garlic, Serpent Garlic, Ai, A̱gurma a̱nfwuong, Bhâbâng potè, Kesuna, Tiskrt, Garleac, Kunofroku, Σκόρδον, Чеснок, Сарсмакъ, Սխտոր, လသိုန်ဗတာင်, ꯆꯅꯝ, Garden garlic, Garlick
Af: Knoffel
Sq: Hudhra
Am: ነጭ ሽንኩርት
Ar: Thoum, ثوم, Tum, Fum, Thum, ثُوم, فوم, فُوم
Hy: Սխտոր
Ay: Ajusa
Az: Sarımsaq
Bm: Tumɛ
Ba: Һарымһаҡ
Eu: Baratxuri
Be: Часнок
Bn: রসুন
Bi: Galik
Bs: Bijeli luk
Br: Kignen
Bg: Чесън
My: ကြက်သွန်ဖြူ
Ca: All, All de cuina
Ce: КӀонцерг
Zh: Suan, 大蒜, 蒜
Cv: Ыхра
Kw: Kennin ewinek
Co: Aglia
Hr: Češnjak
Cs: Česnek kuchyňský
Da: Hvidløg
Dv: ލޮނުމެދު
Nl: Knoflook
Eo: Ajlo
Et: Küüslauk
Fo: Hvítleykur
Fi: Kynsilaukka
Fr: Ail, Ail commun, Ail cultivé, Ail blanc, Ail rocambole, Thériaque des pauvres
Gl: Allo
Ka: Ნიორი
De: Knoblauch, Großer Schlangerknoblauch, Alterswurzel, Echter Knoblauch, Perlzwiebel, Schlangen-Knoblauch, Stinkerzwiebel, Knob-Lauch
El: Σκόρδο
Gn: Áho
Gu: લસણ
Ht: Lay
Ha: Tafarnuwa
He: שום
Hi: लहसुन
Hu: Fokhagyma
Is: Hvítlaukur
Io: Alio
Id: Bawang putih
Ga: Gairleog
It: Aglio comune, Aglio
Ja: Ninniku
Jv: Bawang
Kn: ಬೆಳ್ಳುಳ್ಳಿ
Kk: Сарымсақ
Km: ខ្ទឹមស
Ky: Сарымсак
Ko: Maneul, 마늘
Ku: Sîr
Lo: ຜັກທຽມ
Lv: Ķiploks
Li: Witlouk
Lt: Valgomasis česnakas
Lg: Emisuwa egikaluba
Lb: Knuewelek
Mk: Лук
Mg: Tongolo gasy
Ms: Bawang putih
Ml: വെളുത്തുള്ളി
Mt: Tewm
Gv: Garleid
Mr: लसूण
Mn: Саримс
Nv: Tłʼohchin díchʼííʼí
Ne: लसुन
No: Hvitløk, Kvitlauk
Oc: Alh, Alh cultivat
Or: ରସୁଣ
Os: Нуры
Pa: ਲਸਣ
Ps: هوږه
Fa: سیر
Pl: Czosnek, Czosnek pospolity
Pt: Alho, Alho-comum, Alho-de-cabeça
Pt-br: Alho
Qu: Ahus
Ro: Usturoi
Ru: Чеснок
Sa: लशुनम्
Sc: Azu
Gd: Creamh
Sr: Бели лук
Sd: ٿوم
Si: සුදු ලූනු
Sk: Cesnak kuchynský
So: Toon
Es: Ajo, Česen
Su: Bawang bodas
Sw: Kitunguu saumu
Sv: Vitlök
Tl: Bawang
Zh-tw: 大蒜
Tg: Сирпиёз
Ta: பூண்டு
Tt: Сарымсак
Te: వెల్లుల్లి
Th: กระเทียม
Bo: སྒོག་ལོག
Zh-hant: 蒜
Tr: Sarımsak, Sarmisak disi
Tk: Sarymsak
Ug: سامساق
Uk: Часник
Ur: لہسن
Uz: Sarimsoq
Vi: Tỏi
Vo: Läl
Wa: A
Cy: Garlleg, Craf, Craf Eurinog, Craf y Gerddi, Garlleg Cenin Ewinog
Fy: Knyflok
Wo: Laac
Yi: קנאָבל
Za: Suenq
Synonyms
- Allium sativum var. controversum ((Schrad. ex Willd.) Nyman)
- Porrum ophioscorodon ((Link) Rchb.)
- Allium sativum var. subrotundum (Gren. & Godr.)
- Allium pekinense (Prokh.)
- Allium ophioscorodon (Link)
- Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon ((Link) Döll)
- Allium sativum f. sagittatum (Kazakova)
- Allium sativum f. vulgare (Kazakova)
- Allium scorodoprasum var. multibulbillosum (Y.N.Lee)
- Allium sativum subsp. ophioscorodon ((Link) Schübl. & G.Martens)
- Allium sativum var. pekinense ((Prokh.) F.Maek.)
- Allium scorodoprasum var. viviparum (Regel)
- Porrum sativum ((L.) Rchb.)
- Allium sativum subsp. controversum ((Schrad. ex Willd.) K.Richt.)
- Allium controversum (Schrad. ex Willd.)
- Allium sativum f. asiae-mediae (Kazakova)
- Allium sativum var. vulgare (Döll)
- Allium sativum subsp. subrotundum ((Gren. & Godr.) K.Richt.)
- Allium sativum subsp. asiae-mediae (Kazakova)
- Allium scorodoprasum subsp. viviparum ((Regel) K.Richt.)
- Allium longicuspis (Regel)
- Allium sativum f. pekinense ((Prokh.) Makino)
Distribution
- Iran (native)
- Kazakhstan (native)
- Kirgizstan (native)
- Tadzhikistan (native)
- Turkmenistan (native)
- Uzbekistan (native)
- Albania (introduced)
- Algeria (introduced)
- Amur (introduced)
- Austria (introduced)
- Baleares (introduced)
- Baltic States (introduced)
- Bangladesh (introduced)
- Belarus (introduced)
- Bulgaria (introduced)
- Cambodia (introduced)
- Canary Is. (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- China North-Central (introduced)
- China South-Central (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Corse (introduced)
- Cuba (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- Dominican Republic (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- Egypt (introduced)
- Ethiopia (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Galápagos (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Greece (introduced)
- Haiti (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- India (introduced)
- Iraq (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Jamaica (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- Leeward Is. (introduced)
- Libya (introduced)
- Mexico Central (introduced)
- Mexico Northwest (introduced)
- Mexico Southeast (introduced)
- Mexico Southwest (introduced)
- Morocco (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- North European Russi (introduced)
- Northwest European R (introduced)
- Pakistan (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Puerto Rico (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- Sardegna (introduced)
- Seychelles (introduced)
- Sicilia (introduced)
- South European Russi (introduced)
- Spain (introduced)
- Switzerland (introduced)
- Tennessee (introduced)
- Thailand (introduced)
- Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
- Tunisia (introduced)
- Turkey (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Wisconsin (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Fruit
Taken Oct 26, 2021 by Kevin Kanz kusryan (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 19, 2021 by Muhammad Nawaz (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 29, 2020 by Jitendra Kumar Sahoo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 21, 2019 by Diego Alex (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 20, 2021 by Christopher Lewis (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Apr 2, 2022 by Sandoval Igelmo Santiago (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 20, 2022 by Ozoda Saminova (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 4, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 4, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 28, 2021 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jul 16, 2022 by Alexander Baransky (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 26, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 26, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 30, 2020 by Alves Léo (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 26, 2016 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Mar 2, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 2, 2022 by Sandoval Igelmo Santiago (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 20, 2022 by Ozoda Saminova (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 4, 2022 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 28, 2021 by William Coville (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Jun 15, 2011 by EOL − Valter Jacinto (cc-by-nc-sa)
Taken Jul 21, 2018 by Lyndee Codinha (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Hedwig Storch (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − H. Zell (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 2, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Aug 14, 2020 by Fathar_ Rizky_W (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 28, 2015 by Samuel Dufour-Kowalski (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 10, 2020 by callegari manuel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 28, 2022 by Silvani Herisky (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 2, 2022 by Sandoval Igelmo Santiago (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:528796-1)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2856681)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Allium sativum L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Sowing: Direct seed large cloves
Row spacing: {‘cm’: 10}
Spread: {‘cm’: 10}
Ph maximum: 8.0
Ph minimum: 7.5
Light: 7
Atmospheric humidity: 4
Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’]
Soil nutriments: 7