Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are a delicious herb that belongs to the onion family. They are perfect for home gardeners. They are easy to grow in pots or garden beds and are great for garnishing and seasoning. Let’s see how to grow them –
Scientific Name: Allium schoenoprasum
Some Basic Information about Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Habit– A perennial small-sized, bulbous herb forming dense clumps
Root– Bulbous (clustered slender conical bulbs), with shallow roots
Stem– Erect, smooth, solid, hollow cylindrical scapes up to 50 cm tall
Leaf– Basal, simple, linear-filiform, hollow tubular leaves (8–50 cm long), entire margins, unicostate reticulate venation, aromatic
Inflorescence– Terminal umbel (globular head) with 10–30 small flowers subtended by a papery bract
Flower– Bracteate, pedicellate, complete, regular (actinomorphic), hermaphrodite, hypogynous; star-shaped pale purple to pink florets (~6 tepals)
Calyx & Corolla – Flowers with 6 tepals (sepals and petals similar), forming star-shape; perianth parts separate
Androecium– 6 stamens, epitepalous, anthers dithecous, introrse
Gynoecium– 3 carpels, syncarpous pistil with superior ovary, axile placentation, single style and stigma
Fruit– Dry capsule, three-valved, releasing small black seeds
Floral formula– ⚥ ⊕ P(3+3) A3+3 G(3)
Systematic Position:
Kingdom – Plantae
Clade – Tracheophytes, Angiosperms, Monocots
Order – Asparagales
Family – Amaryllidaceae (subfamily Allioideae)
Genus – Allium
Species – A. schoenoprasum L.
Clade – Tracheophytes, Angiosperms, Monocots
Order – Asparagales
Family – Amaryllidaceae (subfamily Allioideae)
Genus – Allium
Species – A. schoenoprasum L.
