Mongolian leek
Allium mongolicum

Family: Amaryllidaceae

What it is like

A herb that keeps growing from year to year. It grows 10-30 cm high. It has a strong taste and smell. The bulbs are covered with loose fibres. The leaves are at the base and are narrow. They are 10-15 cm long by 1-2 mm wide. The flowers are purple.

They have also been put in the family Alliaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate climate plant. It grows on arid hills in China. It grows between 800-2,800 m above sea level. It grows in Inner Mongolia.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Central Asia, China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia

How it is used for food

The young plants before flowering are used in meat dishes. They can be eaten fresh or dried as a flavouring.

It is an important flavouring vegetable in Inner Mongolia.

Edible parts

Leaves, bulbs, flavouring

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bianjiucai, Humeel, She congm

Synonyms

Allium krylovii Sobolevsk.; Allium mongolicum var. kabaense Chang Y. Yang & J. H. Huang;