Wild Plants of Malta & Gozo - Plant: Allium melitense (Maltese Leek)

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Mon 21 May 2012 Google PR= 5

Maltese Leek

Allium melitense (Sommier & Caruana Gatto) Ciferri & Giacomini (Fam: ALLIACEAE.)
Allium melitense / Maltese Leek / Kurrat ta' Malta

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Alliaceae Index

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Nomenclature
Species name:	*Allium melitense* (Sommier & Caruana Gatto) Ciferri & Giacomini
Author(s):	Carlo Pietro Stefano Sommier; Italy, 1848-1922 Alfredo Caruana Gatto; Malta, 1868-1926 Raffaele Ciferri; Italy, 1897-1964 Valerio Giacomini; Italy, 1914-1981
Principal Synonyms:	Allium ampeloprasum var. melitense, Allium commutatum var. melitense
Common names:	Maltese Garlic, Maltese Leek
Maltese names:	Kurrat ta' Malta
Plant Family:	Alliaceae (Onion Family)
Status:	Endemic. Found only on the Maltese islands
Remarks:	This species is an endemic plant but some argue that this is just a small variant (=dwarf) of the variable and closely related species - Allium commutatum. -

Specifications & Description
Life Cycle:	Perennial.
Growth Form:	GEOPHYTE (Bulbous/Rhizomous plants)
Habitat:	Rocky steppes and valley sides especially near arable land. Prefers coastal areas.
Frequency:	Frequent
Localities in Malta:	Frequent. Mistra, Selmun, Wied Babu, Ramla l-Hamra (Gozo).
Plant Height:	20-30cm.
Flowering Period:	May - Jul
Protection in Malta:	Not Protected by Law (LN200/2011 or LN311/2006)
Red List 1989:	This species has a threatened status and is listed in the Flora section of the National Red Data Book (Lanfranco, 1989)
Poison:	Data not available

Photo Gallery (6 images)

Allium melitense - Image Code: ALLME-0.
Allium melitense / Maltese Leek / Kurrat ta' Malta

Allium melitense - Image Code: ALLME-1.
Allium melitense / Maltese Leek / Kurrat ta' Malta

Allium melitense - Image Code: ALLME-2.
Allium melitense / Maltese Leek / Kurrat ta' Malta

Allium melitense - Image Code: ALLME-3.
Allium melitense / Maltese Leek / Kurrat ta' Malta

Allium melitense - Image Code: ALLME-4.
Allium melitense / Maltese Leek / Kurrat ta' Malta

Allium melitense - Image Code: ALLME-5.
Allium melitense / Maltese Leek / Kurrat ta' Malta

Links & Further info
More info about Allium melitense from Google:	Search images of Allium melitense from Google:
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Distribution of Allium melitense from GBIF	Search Allium melitense on Encyclopaedia of Life
Search for Allium melitense on the FORUM of MaltaWildPlants.com

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A: Additional Information about this plant species

Own observations:

Info from published material (books, journals, website):

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B: Where have you seen this plant on the Maltese Islands?

Locations in Malta or Gozo where you have encountered this plant.
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Try to be as concise as possible. Examples: Dingli Cliffs (near chapel), Wied Incita (Zebbug side), Triq il-Kbira (Qormi), Barriera ta\' Abdul (Xlendi), Fields near Salib tal-gholja (Siggiewi). GPS bearings are also welcomed!

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Nomenclature	Botanical Data
Plant Description (part 1)	Plant Description (text)
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Species name:

Allium melitense (Sommier & Caruana Gatto) Ciferri & Giacomini

Author(s):

Carlo Pietro Stefano Sommier;
   Italy, 1848-1922

Alfredo Caruana Gatto;
   Malta, 1868-1926

Raffaele Ciferri;
   Italy, 1897-1964

Valerio Giacomini;
   Italy, 1914-1981

Principal Synonyms:

Allium ampeloprasum var. melitense, Allium commutatum var. melitense

Common names:

Maltese Garlic, Maltese Leek

Maltese names:

Kurrat ta' Malta

Plant Family:

Alliaceae (Onion Family)

Status:

Endemic. Found only on the Maltese islands

Remarks:

This species is an endemic plant but some argue that this is just a small variant (=dwarf) of the variable and closely related species - Allium commutatum. -

Life Cycle:

Perennial.

Growth Form:

GEOPHYTE (Bulbous/Rhizomous plants)

Habitat:

Rocky steppes and valley sides especially near arable land. Prefers coastal areas.

Frequency:

Frequent

Localities in Malta:

Frequent. Mistra, Selmun, Wied Babu, Ramla l-Hamra (Gozo).

Plant Height:

20-30cm.

Flowering Period:

May - Jul

Protection in Malta:

Not Protected by Law (LN200/2011 or LN311/2006)

Red List 1989:

This species has a threatened status and is listed in the Flora section of the National Red Data Book (Lanfranco, 1989)

Poison:

Data not available