A Siberian that nods: Allium nutans

[stevil]

This one was mentioned earlier and, yes it’s also a good one. I have this from different sources. One that I call Slizun came from Swedish author Lena Israelsson who has written a number of interesting books (in Swedish) on unusual vegetables. She had obtained it in Russia from a gardener who grew it for food. Here it is:

Spring leaves are quite broad in this selection
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1132

The flowers nod when they first emerge and then straighten out
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1101

The scape is angled:
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1100

However, I think Slizun is just the Russian name for this species, Лук слизун, rather than a cultivar name.

I’ve also recently sown an unnamed selection developed in Belarus from wild populations in Siberia, so it will be interesting to compare these two Russian vegetable varieties.

A different cultivar is shown here:
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1133

It’s a very varied plant and Allium guru Mark McDonough has some nice forms that it would be very nice to get hold of. Look at this beauty (and others on the same site):

pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/Allium/Allium_nutans_lg_leaf_form_wk5.jpg

However, botanically they are difficult (at least for me!) to separate from Allium senescens (another good one with a lot of forms) – I was struggling this summer, using the Flora of China key (the nodding character of the flowers is strangely not mentioned as separating senescens and nutans so maybe it’s not reliable – nutans means nodding).

Last year, I heard rumours that this species had been found in some old gardens in Northern Sweden with perhaps Russia being the source, but the latest is that they think it’s a large form of Allium senescens. I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m trying to get some material. Independently, I obtained an unknown large Allium from a gardener in Northern Norway who had obtained it from a garden in Råneå in Northern Sweden. It is an excellent edible too and different from anything else I have and I’m thinking it is possibly the same thing. I’ll have to try keying it out next year. It produces very few seed though. Here are a few pictures:

www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1102
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1102
It doesn’t nod…
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1103
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1105
www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1104

[lieven]

Hi Stevil, they all sure look yummy!

[toad]

However, I think Slizun is just the Russian name for this species, Лук слизун, rather than a cultivar name.

I agree, and more important, so does the Wikipedia ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Лук_(растение)

Maybe Lena Israelsson could consider naming her variety?

/Søren.

[canadamike]

Does it make a somewhat sizeable bulb?

[stevil]

Søren: Thanks for the confirmation - I was thinking of you when I put in that Russian! I knew my 2 years of school Russian would come in handy one day...

I haven't managed to contact Lena for some time - her email bounces. She used to post now and again on the pfaf email group, still registered (but as bouncing). Guess we'll just have to call it Allium nutans "Lena"...

[stevil]

Dec 18, 2008 12:55:45 GMT -5 canadamike said:

Does it make a somewhat sizeable bulb?

No bulb - see the third onion from the left in this picture:

www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1084
(the one with a long white base and broad leaves)