Shallot (Allium cepa, Sp. pl. 1:300. 1753)

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. pl. 1:300. 1753

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Allium

Vegetable: True

Observations: a cultigen from C. Asia

Description

The shallot is a renowned plant, recognized both for its culinary significance and botanical intrigue. Scientifically termed Allium cepa, the shallot is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, a family known for its diverse and aromatic species. The plant’s history is deeply rooted in Central Asia, where it is believed to have been first cultivated, marking it as a notable cultigen from this region.

Shallots have a distinguished place in culinary arts, revered for their subtle yet rich flavor that offers a more delicate and sweeter alternative to common onions. This versatility makes them a favored ingredient in a multitude of dishes ranging from sauces and dressings to gourmet entrees. Their fine, papery skin encloses clusters of cloves, which once peeled, reveal a firm, crisp texture that releases a characteristic aroma upon cutting.

Beyond the kitchen, the shallot holds considerable botanical interest. It shares the genus Allium with onions, garlic, and leeks, all of which have significant roles in both gastronomy and traditional medicine. The documented classification of shallots dates back to 1753, with the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus (abbreviated as L.) being the authority on its taxonomy as detailed in his seminal work “Species Plantarum.”

In conclusion, shallots, or Allium cepa, encapsulate a rich blend of usefulness and historical significance. Originating from Central Asia, their enduring presence in various cuisines around the world underscores their cherished status. As a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, the shallot continues to embody a perfect balance between culinary delight and botanical fascination.

Common Names

Eng: garden onion, onion, shallot, common onion, spring onion
Dan: kepa-løg, spise-løg
Deu: küchen-zwiebel, küchenzwiebel, schalotte
Fra: oignon, échalote
Tur: sogan
Mlt: tewma bajda
Ara: basal
Por: cebola
Ces: cibule kuchyňská
Ita: cipolla
Ell: kremmydi
Swe: lök
Hun: vöröshagyma
Nld: ui
Cym: nionod, nionod hau, nionyn, nionyn hau, sibols, sibolsyn, wnionyn, wynionyn, wynwynyn
En: Shallot, Onion, Globe onion, Garden onion, Aniosi, A̱gurma, Bawang bombai, Civole, Cīpe, Sevoya, Xaóenêhéstâhévo, Zwiebel, Aẓalim, Témítà, Țeapâ, Գլուխ Սոխ, पियाज, ꯇꯤꯜꯍꯧ, Common Onion, Spring Onion, Scallion, Tree Onion
Af: Ui
Ak: Gyeene
Sq: Qepa
Am: ሽንኩርት
Ar: Basal, بصل, Bassal, بَصَل
Hy: Գլուխ սոխ
As: পিয়াঁজ
Ay: Siwilla
Az: Adi soğan
Ba: Һуған
Eu: Tipula
Be: Цыбуля рэпчатая
Bn: পিঁয়াজ
Bs: Crveni luk
Br: Ognon
Bg: Кромид лук
My: ကြက်သွန်နီ
Ca: Cebera, Ceba
Zh: 洋葱, 洋蔥
Co: Cipolla
Hr: Lȕk
Cs: Cibule kuchyňská, Cibule
Da: Løg, Kepa-løg, Spise-løg
Dv: ފިޔާ
Nl: Ui, Sjalot
Eo: Cepo
Et: Harilik sibul
Fi: Ruokasipuli
Fr: Oignon, Échalote, Ail oignon, Ail à fleurs peu nombreuses
Gl: Cebola
Ka: Თალგამისებური ხახვი
De: Küchen-Zwiebel, Küchenzwiebel, Schalotte, Gemeine Zwiebel, Schallote, Zwiebel
El: Κρεμμύδι, Kremmydi
Gn: Sevói
Gu: ડુંગળી
Ht: Zonyon
Ha: Albasa
He: בצל הגינה
Hi: प्याज़
Hu: Vöröshagyma
Is: Laukur
Io: Onyono
Id: Bawang bombai
Ia: Cibolla
Ga: Oinniún
It: Cipolla, Scalogno, Scalogna
Jv: Bawang bombay
Kn: ಈರುಳ್ಳಿ
Kk: Пияз
Rw: Ubuntunguru
Ky: Пияз
Rn: Ibitunguru
Ko: Ogba, Yangba, 양파
Ku: Pîvaz
Lv: Dārza sīpoli
Li: Ooj
Ln: Litungúlu
Lt: Valgomasis svogūnas
Lb: Ënn
Mk: Кромид
Mg: Tongolo
Ms: Bawang
Ml: ഉള്ളി
Mt: Basal, Tewma bajda
Gv: Unnish
Mr: कांदा
Mn: Сонгино
Ne: प्याज
No: Lauk, Vanlig løk
Oc: Ceba
Or: ପିଆଜ
Os: Бынджын хъæдындз
Pa: ਪਿਆਜ਼
Ps: پياز
Fa: پیاز
Pl: Cebula zwyczajna
Pt: Cebola
Pt-br: Cebola
Qu: Siwilla
Ro: Ceapă
Ru: Лук репчатый
Sm: Aniani
Sa: पलाण्डुः
Sc: Chibudda
Gd: Uinnean
Sr: Црни лук
Sd: بصر
Si: ලූනු
Sk: Cesnak cibuľový, Cibuľa
So: Basal
Es: Cebolla, Čebula, Cebolleta, Chalote, Allium cepa, Escaluña
Su: Bawang bombay
Sw: Kitunguu
Sv: Lök
Tl: Sibuyas
Zh-tw: 洋蔥
Tg: Пиёз
Ta: வெங்காயம்
Te: ఉల్లిపాయ
Th: หอมใหญ่
Bo: ཙོང་རིལ།
To: Onioni
Zh-hant: 洋蔥
Tr: Soğan, Sogan
Ug: Piyaz, پىياز
Uk: Цибуля ріпчаста
Ur: پیاز
Vi: Hành tây
Cy: Nionyn, Nionod, Nionod Hau, Nionyn Hau, Sibols, Sibolsyn, Wnionyn, Wynionyn, Wynwynyn
Wo: Soble
Xh: Itswele
Yi: ציבל
Yo: Àlùbọ́sà
Zu: Uanyanisi

Synonyms

• Allium cepa var. tripolitanum (Alef.)
• Allium aobanum (Araki)
• Allium cepa var. crinides (Alef.)
• Porrum cepa ((L.) Rchb.)
• Allium cepa var. aggregatum (G.Don)
• Allium cepa var. lisboanum (Alef.)
• Allium cepa var. anglicum (Alef.)
• Cepa esculenta var. rubra (Gray)
• Allium cepa var. roseum (Alef.)
• Allium angolense (Baker)
• Cepa esculenta var. ramosa (Gray)
• Allium ascalonicum (Anon.)
• Allium cepa var. luteum (Alef.)
• Allium cepa var. solaninum (Alef.)
• Kepa esculenta (Raf.)
• Cepa pallens (P.Renault)
• Allium ascalonicum var. sterile (Millán)
• Ascalonicum sativum (P.Renault)
• Allium ascalonicum var. fertile (Millán)
• Allium cepa var. jamesii (Alef.)
• Allium ascalonicum var. condensum (Millán)
• Allium cepaeum (St.-Lag.)
• Cepa rubra (P.Renault)
• Allium cepa var. viviparum ((Metzg.) Alef.)
• Allium cepa var. portanum (Alef.)
• Allium ascalonicum var. majus (Corrie)
• Allium cepa var. sanguineum (Alef.)
• Allium napus (Pall. ex Kunth)
• Allium nigritanum (A.Chev.)
• Allium cepa var. bifolium (Alef.)
• Allium commune (Noronha)
• Allium cumaria (Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.)
• Cepa esculenta var. hispanica (Gray)
• Cepa alba (P.Renault)
• Allium cepa var. argenteum (Alef.)
• Allium cepa var. hispanicum (Alef.)
• Cepa vulgaris (Garsault)
• Allium salota (Dostál)
• Allium cepa var. globosum (Alef.)
• Cepa esculenta (Gray)
• Allium ascalonicum f. rotterianum (Voss ex J.Becker)
• Allium cepa var. praecox (Alef.)
• Allium esculentum (Salisb.)
• Allium cepa var. flandricum (Alef.)
• Allium cepa var. multiplicans (L.H.Bailey)

Distribution

• Turkmenistan (native)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Guinea-Bissau (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Iraq (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Kirgizstan (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• Libya (introduced)
• Louisiana (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Manchuria (introduced)
• Mauritania (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Mexico Northeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southeast (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• North European Russi (introduced)
• Northwest European R (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Tibet (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Xinjiang (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.

Flower

Taken Mar 6, 2015 by Muhammad Falah (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 8, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 2, 2017 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2018 by Charles Cany (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 8, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Mar 8, 2022 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 18, 2021 by moreira freddy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Giulia Toffolon (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 15, 2022 by Monteiro Henrique (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 2, 2017 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Apr 12, 2015 by Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 20, 2021 by tereseta (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 7, 2017 by Laurie David (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2022 by Davide Frate (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 8, 2022 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Dec 15, 2019 by Kabbaj Salma (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2019 by Pereira Cavalcante Sâmalla Rávilla (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2021 by sara dias (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 14, 2019 by Ant Soberanes (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 28, 2017 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 23, 2022 by Joseph Dupont (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2022 by Kendall Thorman (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2022 by Carla farias (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 22, 2021 by kirin peagler (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2021 by Awal Gul Sahil Sahil (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 12, 2021 by Sabin Poenariu (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 29, 2022 by Jani Zadrgal (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 12, 2015 by Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 3, 2021 by Frédéric claeys (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 4, 2021 by Romy (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:527795-1)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2857697)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Allium cepa L.)

Specifications

Growth