Broad-leaved leek
Allium hookeri

Family: Amaryllidaceae

What it is like

An onion family plant. A bulb plant. The root is long and thick and fleshy. There are a cluster of bulbs. They are long. The leaves are narrow. The flowering heads are round and have many flowers. There are a few black seeds.

There are about 300-700 Allium species. Most species of Allium are edible (Flora of China). All alliums are edible but they may not all be worth eating! They have also been put in the family Alliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows on the edges of the forests in moist places between 1400-4200 m altitude in S China. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet

How it is used for food

The bulbs are eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The flowers are used raw to flavour salads. They are also fried and eaten and crushed. The plant is used for soup.

It is cultivated as a vegetable in some parts of South China.

Edible parts

Flowers, leaves, root, bulb, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Da la pu, Hooker's chive, Kaisuon, Kuan ye jiu, Maan, Maroi napakpi, Mizo-Purun, Nyishi talap, Phulun pah, Phulunzung, Pu-run-jung, Purunui, Su ceng, Tingdra, Tao gu, Tlang purun

Synonyms

Allium hookeri var. hookeri; Allium tsoongii F. T. Wang & Tang;