Allium schoenoprasum

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamilia: Allioideae
Tribus: Allieae
Genus: Allium
Subgenus: A. subg. Cepa
Sectio: A. sect. Schoenoprasum
Species: Allium schoenoprasum
Name

Allium schoenoprasum L., Sp. Pl. 1: 301. 1753.

Type locality: “In alpestribus Sibiria, Oelandia locis rupestribus.”
Lectotypus (designated by de Wilde-Duyfjes, Taxon 22: 82. 1973): Herb. Linn. No. 419.37 (LINN)

Synonyms

Homotypic
Allium schoenoprasum var. vulgare Alef., Landw. Fl.: 298. 1866, nom. inval.
Ascalonicum schoenoprasum (L.) P.Renault, Fl. Orne: 33. 1804.
Cepa schoenoprasa (L.) Moench, Methodus: 244. 1794.
Porrum schoenoprasum (L.) Schur, Enum. Pl. Transsilv.: 670. 1866.
Schoenissa schoenoprasa (L.) Salisb., Gen. Pl.: 91. 1866, nom. inval.
Schoenoprasum vulgare Fourr., Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon, n.s., 17: 159. 1869.
Heterotypic
Allium acutum Spreng., Pl. Min. Cogn. Pug. 1: 28. 1813.
Allium alpinum (DC.) Hegetschw., Fl. Helv. (Suter) 2 ed. 2: 445. 1822, nom. superfl. & illeg.
Allium broteroi Kunth, Enum. Pl. 4: 454. 1843.
Allium buhseanum Regel, Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 3(2): 81. 1875.
Allium carneum Schult. & Schult.f. in J.J.Roemer & J.A.Schultes, Syst. Veg. 7: 1028. 1830, nom. illeg.
Allium coloratum Dulac, Fl. Hautes-Pyrénées: 110. 1867, nom. illeg.
Allium foliosum Clairv. ex DC., Fl. Franç. (J.B.A.M.de Lamarck & A.P.de Candolle) ed. 3, 6: 725. 1815
Allium foliosum Clairv. ex DC., Liliac. (P.J.Redouté) 4: t. 214. 1808.
Allium glaucum DC. in P.J.Redouté, Liliac. 4: t. 214. 1808.
Allium glaucum Ledeb., Fl. Ross. 4: 167. 1852, nom. illeg.
Allium gredense Rivas Goday, Bol. Real Soc. Esp. Hist Nat. 24: 386. 1924.
Allium idzuense H.Hara, J. Jap. Bot. 49: 1. 1974.
Allium lusitanicum Link ex Regel, Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 3(2): 78. 1875, nom. inval.
Allium montanum Schrank, Naturhist. Briefe Oestreich (F.P.von Schrank & K.E.R.von Moll) 2: 220. 1785.
Allium palustre Chaix, Hist. Pl. Dauphiné (D.Villars) 1: 321. 1786.
Allium palustre Pourr. ex Lag., Elench. Pl.: 13. 1816, nom. illeg.
Allium palustre Salisb., Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 235. 1796, nom. illeg.
Allium punctulatum Schltdl., Linnaea 19: 401. 1847.
Allium purpurascens Losa, Contr. Estud. Fl. Veg. Zamora: 142. 1949.
Allium raddeanum Regel, Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 3(2): 155. 1875.
Allium reflexum F.Dietr., Vollst. Lex. Gärtn., ed. 2, 1: 285. 1824.
Allium riparium Opiz, Naturalientausch 6: 50. 1824.
Allium roseum Krock., Fl. Siles 1: 516. 1787, nom. illeg.
Allium schmitzii var. duriminium Cout., Bol. Soc. Brot. 13: 103. 1896.
Allium schoenoprasum f. albiflorum J.Rousseau, Canad. J. Res., Sect. C, Bot. Sci. 28: 238. 1950.
Allium schoenoprasum f. kokinjae Hay.
Allium schoenoprasum f. purpuratum Konta, Bull. Natl. Sci. Mus. Tokyo, B 31: 158. 2005.
Allium schoenoprasum subsp. alpinum (DC.) Nyman, Consp. Fl. Eur.: 741. 1882.
Allium schoenoprasum subsp. euschoenoprasum Syme in J.E.Smith, Engl. Bot., ed. 3, 9: 315. 1869, nom. inval.
Allium schoenoprasum subsp. gredense (Rivas Goday) Rivas Mart., Fern.Gonz.& Sánchez Mata, Opusc. Bot. Pharm. Complut. 2: 103. 1986.
Allium schoenoprasum subsp. latiorifolium (Pau) Rivas Mart., Fern.Gonz. & Sánchez Mata, Opusc. Bot. Pharm. Complut. 2: 103. 1986.
Allium schoenoprasum subsp. orosiae J.M.Monts., Bull. Soc. Échange Pl. Vasc. Eur. Occid. Bassin Médit. 19: 110. 1984.
Allium schoenoprasum subsp. pumilum (Bunge) K.Richt., Pl. Eur. 1: 203. 1890.
Allium schoenoprasum subsp. riparium (Opiz) Celak., Prodr. Fl. Böhmen 1: 91. 1867.
Allium schoenoprasum subsp. sibiricum (L.) Syme in J.E.Smith, Engl. Bot., ed. 3, 9: 216. 1869.
Allium schoenoprasum var. alpinum DC., Fl. Franç. (J.B.A.M.de Lamarck & A.P.de Candolle), ed. 3. 3: 227. 1805, nom. nud.
Allium schoenoprasum var. alpinum DC., Fl. Franç. (J.B.A.M.de Lamarck & A.P.de Candolle) ed. 3, 6: 319. 1815, nom. inval.
Allium schoenoprasum var. alvarense Hyl., Uppsala Univ. Årsskr. 1945 (7): 113. 1945.
Allium schoenoprasum var. bellum Kitam., Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 59: 35. 1946.
Allium schoenoprasum var. broteroi (Kunth) Nyman, Consp. Fl. Eur.: 741. 1882.
Allium schoenoprasum var. buhseanum (Regel) Boiss., Fl. Orient. 5: 250. 1882.
Allium schoenoprasum var. caespitans Ohwi, Fl. Jap., ed. rev.: 1437. 1965.
Allium schoenoprasum var. duriminium (Cout.) Cout., Fl. Portugal: 130. 1913.
Allium schoenoprasum var. foliosum (Clairv. ex DC.) Mutel, Fl. Franç. 3: 305. 1836.
Allium schoenoprasum var. idzuense (H.Hara) H.Hara, J. Jap. Bot. 55: 214. 1980.
Allium schoenoprasum var. jurmoense O.A.Eklund, Memoranda Soc. Fauna Fl. Fenn. No. 4, 7. 1927.
Allium schoenoprasum var. latiorifolium Pau, Bol. Soc. Aragonesa Ci. Nat. 2: 42. 1912.
Allium schoenoprasum var. laurentianum Fernald, Rhodora 28: 167. 1926.
Allium schoenoprasum var. lusitanicum Nyman, Consp. Fl. Eur.: 741. 1882.
Allium schoenoprasum var. pumilum Bunge, Verz. Altai Pfl.: 26. 1836.
Allium schoenoprasum var. sibiricum (L.) Garcke, Fl. N. Mitt.-Deutschland: 322. 1849.
Allium sibiricum L., Mant. Pl. 2: 562. 1771.
Allium tenuifolium Pohl, Tent. Fl. Bohem. 2: 10. 1814, nom. illeg.
Allium tenuifolium Salisb., Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton: 235. 1796.
Allium ubinicum Kotukhov, Turczaninowia 6: 5. 2003.
Allium udinicum Antsupova, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 26: 38. 1989.
Cepa tenuifolia (Salisb.) Gray, Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 114. 1821.
Porrum sibiricum (L.) Schur, Enum. Pl. Transsilv.: 670. 1866.
Schoenissa rosea Salisb., Gen. Pl.: 91. 1866, nom. inval.

Notes

Allium glaucum Schrad. ex Poir. (1810) = Allium senescens subsp. glaucum (Regel) Dostál
Allium montanum F.W.Schmidt (1794) = Allium lusitanicum Lam.
Allium montanum Sm. (1809) = Allium sibthorpianum Schult. & Schult.f.
Allium montanum Guss. (1826) = Allium tenuiflorum Ten.
Allium montanum Ten. (1827) = Allium cupani subsp. cupani
Allium montanum Rchb. (1848) = Allium flavum subsp. flavum

References

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus I: 301. Reference page.

Additional references

Jarvis, C.E. 2007. Order out of Chaos: Linnaean Plant Names and their Types. London: Linnean Society of London in association with the Natural History Museum, ISBN 978-0-9506207-7-0, p. 278. Reference page.
Friesen, N.W. & Blattner, F.R. 2000. RAPD Analysis Reveals Geographic Differentiations within Allium schoenoprasum L. (Alliaceae). Pl. Biol. 2: 297–305.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2018. Allium schoenoprasum in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2018 Jul. 24. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2018. Allium schoenoprasum. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2018. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2018 Jul. 24. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2018. Allium schoenoprasum. Published online. Accessed: Jul. 24 2018.
USDA NRCS PLANTS Profile

Vernacular names
Afrikaans: Uiegras
беларуская: Цыбуля скарада
català: All
čeština: Pažitka pobřežní
dansk: Purløg
Deutsch: Schnittlauch
English: Chives
Esperanto: Sxenopraxo
español: Cebollino
eesti: Murulauk
suomi: Ruoholaukka
français: Ciboulette
magyar: Metélőhagyma
հայերեն: Սխտորուկ
italiano: Erba cipollina
македонски: Власец
Nederlands: Bieslook
polski: Czosnek szczypiorek
português: Cebolinho
русский: Лук скорода
shqip: Chives
svenska: Gräslök
Türkçe: Yaprak soğanı
中文（简体）: 细香葱
中文（繁體）: 蝦夷蔥

Chives, scientific name Allium schoenoprasum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae that produces edible leaves and flowers.[3] Their close relatives include the common onions, garlic, shallot, leek, scallion,[4] and Chinese onion.[5]

A perennial plant, it is widespread in nature across much of Europe, Asia, and North America.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

A. schoenoprasum is the only species of Allium native to both the New and the Old Worlds.[12][13]

Chives are a commonly used herb and can be found in grocery stores or grown in home gardens. In culinary use, the green stalks (scapes) and the unopened, immature flower buds are diced and used as an ingredient for omelettes, fish, potatoes, soups, and many other dishes. The edible flowers can be used in salads.[14] Chives have insect-repelling properties that can be used in gardens to control pests.[15]

The plant provides a great deal of nectar for pollinators. It was rated in the top 10 for most nectar production (nectar per unit cover per year) in a UK plants survey conducted by the AgriLand project which is supported by the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative.[16]

Description

Chives are a bulb-forming herbaceous perennial plant, growing to 30–50 cm (12–20 in) tall. The bulbs are slender, conical, 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄4 in) long and 1 cm (1⁄2 in) broad, and grow in dense clusters from the roots. The scapes (or stems) are hollow and tubular, up to 50 cm (20 in) long and 2–3 mm (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) across, with a soft texture, although, prior to the emergence of a flower, they may appear stiffer than usual. The grass-like[14] leaves, which are shorter than the scapes, are also hollow and tubular, or terete, (round in cross-section) which distinguishes it at a glance from garlic chives (Allium tuberosum).

The flowers are pale purple, and star-shaped with six petals, 1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) wide, and produced in a dense inflorescence of 10-30 together; before opening, the inflorescence is surrounded by a papery bract. The seeds are produced in a small, three-valved capsule, maturing in summer. The herb flowers from April to May in the southern parts of its habitat zones and in June in the northern parts.[17][18]

Chives are the only species of Allium native to both the New and the Old Worlds.[19] Sometimes, the plants found in North America are classified as A. schoenoprasum var. sibiricum, although this is disputed. Differences between specimens are significant. One example was found in northern Maine growing solitary, instead of in clumps, also exhibiting dingy grey flowers.[20]

Although chives are repulsive to insects in general, due to their sulfur compounds, their flowers attract bees, and they are at times kept to increase desired insect life.[21]
Taxonomy

It was formally described by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal publication Species Plantarum in 1753.[2][22]

The name of the species derives from the Greek σχοίνος, skhoínos (sedge or rush) and πράσον, práson (leek).[23] Its English name, chives, derives from the French word cive, from cepa, the Latin word for onion.[24][14] In the Middle Ages, it was known as 'rush leek'.[14]

Some subspecies have been proposed, but are not accepted by Plants of the World Online, as of July 2021, which sinks them into the species:

Allium schoenoprasum subsp. gredense (Rivas Goday) Rivas Mart., Fern.Gonz. & Sánchez Mata[25]
Allium schoenoprasum subsp. latiorifolium (Pau) Rivas Mart., Fern.Gonz. & Sánchez Mata[26]

Varieties have also been proposed, including A. schoenoprasum var. sibiricum. The Flora of North America notes that the species is very variable, and considers recognition of varieties as "unsound".[9]
Distribution and habitat

Chives are native to temperate areas of Europe, Asia and North America.[27]
Range
Illustration from the Japanese agricultural encyclopedia Seikei Zusetsu (1804)

It is found in Asia within the Caucasus (in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia), also in China, Iran, Iraq, Japan (within the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russian Federation (within the krais of Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, and Primorye) Siberia and Turkey.[27]

In middle Europe, it is found within Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. In northern Europe, in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In southeastern Europe, within Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Romania. It is also found in southwestern Europe, in France, Portugal and Spain.[27]

In North America, it is found in Canada (within the provinces and territories of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon), and the United States (within the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming).[27]
Uses
Culinary arts

Chives are grown for their scapes and leaves, which are used for culinary purposes as a flavoring herb, and provide a somewhat milder onion-like flavor than those of other Allium species.[28]

Chives have a wide variety of culinary uses, such as in traditional dishes in France, Sweden, and elsewhere.[29] In his 1806 book Attempt at a Flora (Försök til en flora), Anders Jahan Retzius describes how chives are used with pancakes, soups, fish, and sandwiches.[29] They are also an ingredient of the gräddfil sauce with the traditional herring dish served at Swedish midsummer celebrations. The flowers may also be used to garnish dishes.[30]

In Poland and Germany, chives are served with quark. Chives are one of the fines herbes of French cuisine, the others being tarragon, chervil and parsley. Chives can be found fresh at most markets year-round, making them readily available; they can also be dry-frozen without much impairment to the taste, giving home growers the opportunity to store large quantities harvested from their own gardens.[24]
Uses in plant cultivation

Retzius also describes how farmers would plant chives between the rocks making up the borders of their flowerbeds, to keep the plants free from pests (such as Japanese beetles).[29][31] The growing plant repels unwanted insect life, and the juice of the leaves can be used for the same purpose, as well as fighting fungal infections, mildew, and scab.[32][33][34]
Cultivation

Chives are cultivated both for their culinary uses and for their ornamental value; the violet flowers are often used in ornamental dry bouquets.[35] The flowers are also edible and are used in salads,[36] or used to make Blossom vinegars.[37]

Chives thrive in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, with a pH of 6-7 and full sun.[11] They can be grown from seed and mature in summer, or early the following spring. Typically, chives need to be germinated at a temperature of 15 to 20 °C (60-70 °F) and kept moist. They can also be planted under a cloche or germinated indoors in cooler climates, then planted out later. After at least four weeks, the young shoots should be ready to be planted out. They are also easily propagated by division.[38]

In cold regions, chives die back to the underground bulbs in winter, with the new leaves appearing in early spring. Chives starting to look old can be cut back to about 2–5 cm. When harvesting, the needed number of stalks should be cut to the base.[38] During the growing season, the plant continually regrows leaves, allowing for a continuous harvest.[38]

Chives are susceptible to damage by leek moth larvae, which bore into the leaves or bulbs of the plant.[39]
History and cultural importance

Chives have been cultivated in Europe since the Middle Ages (from the fifth until the 15th centuries), although their usage dates back 5,000 years.[24] They were sometimes referred to as "rush leeks".[40]

It was mentioned in 80 A.D. by Marcus Valerius Martialis in his "Epigrams".

He who bears chives on his breath, Is safe from being kissed to death.[12][better source needed]

The Romans believed chives could relieve the pain from sunburn or a sore throat. They believed eating chives could increase blood pressure and act as a diuretic.[41]

Romani have used chives in fortune telling.[42] Bunches of dried chives hung around a house were believed to ward off disease and evil.[43][12]

In the 19th century, Dutch farmers fed cattle on the herb to give a different taste to their milk.[12]
References

Maxted, N. & Rhodes, L. (2016). Allium schoenoprasum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T172256A19391728. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T172256A19391728.en Downloaded on 05 January 2019.
"Allium schoenoprasum L. is an accepted name". theplantlist.org. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
LaFray, Joyce (1987). Tropic Cooking: The New Cuisine from Florida and the Islands of the Caribbean. Oakland: Ten Speed Press. p. 292. ISBN 0-89815-234-8.
Block, E. (2010). Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 978-0-85404-190-9.
"AllergyNet — Allergy Advisor Find". Allallergy.net. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
"World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". kew.org.
"Allium schoenoprasum in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
Tardiff, B.; Morisset, P. (1990). "Clinal morphological variation of Allium schoenoprasum in eastern North America". Taxon. 39 (3): 417–429. doi:10.2307/1223088. JSTOR 1223088.
"Allium schoenoprasum in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
Altervista Flora Italiana, Erba cipollina, wild chives, Civette, Schnittlauch, Allium schoenoprasum L. includes photos, drawings, European distribution map, etc.
"Allium schoenoprasum - Plant Finder". mobot.org.
Ernest Small North American Cornucopia: Top 100 Indigenous Food Plants (2014), p. 230, at Google Books
James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors) The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification, p. 133, at Google Books
Linford, Jenny (2010). A concise guide to herbs. Bath: Parragon. p. 45. ISBN 9781405487993.
Kaufman, Peter B; Thomas J Carlson; Kaufman B Kaufman; Harry L Brielmann; Sara Warber; Leland J Cseke; James A Duke (1999). Natural Products from Plants. Boca Raton: CRC Press. pp. 261. ISBN 9780849331343. 084933134X.
"Which flowers are the best source of nectar?". Conservation Grade. 2014-10-15. Archived from the original on 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
Allium schoenoprasum factsheet, from Kemper center for home gardening, retrieved on June 13, 2006, based on the position of the botanical Garden (Missouri)
Gräslök, from Den virtuella floran, retrieved on June 13, 2006, The facts mentioned on the site apply to Sweden, which is in the northern part of the habitat zone.
"Mushrooms and Egg with Chives". www.valleytable.com. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
McGary, Mary Jane (2001). Bulbs of North America: North American Rock Garden Society. Portland: Timber Press. pp. 28–29. 088192511X.
Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. 0
"Alliaceae Allium schoenoprasum L." ipni.org. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
Anderberg, Anna-Lena. "Den virtuella floran: Allium schoenoprasum L. - Gräslök". nrm.se.
Trowbridge Filippone, Peggy. "Chive Selection and Storage". About.com Food.
"Allium schoenoprasum subsp. gredense (Rivas Goday) Rivas Mart., Fern.Gonz. & Sánchez Mata". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
"Allium schoenoprasum subsp. latiorifolium (Pau) Rivas Mart., Fern.Gonz. & Sánchez Mata". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
"Taxon: Allium schoenoprasum L." ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
"Chives Vs. Green Onions". Tastessence. 2010-05-18. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
Försök til en Flora Oeconomica Sveciæ by A. J. Retzius (1806)
Allium schoenoprasum, from Mountain valley growers, accessed on June 13, 2006
Andy Hamilton. "pests – selfsufficientish – pests". selfsufficientish.com.
Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
"Flower & Garden Magazine, June-July 1996, The lazy gardener's guide to potpourri". findarticles.com. Archived from the original on 2004-09-23.
Durand, Faith (23 May 2008). "Tip: How to Use Chive Blossoms in Salads and Other Dishes". thekitchn.com. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
Margaret Roberts Edible & Medicinal Flowers, p. 146, at Google Books
McGee, Rose Marie Nichols; Stuckey, Maggie (2002). The Bountiful Container. Workman Publishing.
Landry, Jean-François (June 2007). "Taxonomic review of the leek moth genus Acrolepiopsis (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae) in North America". The Canadian Entomologist. 139 (3): 319–353. doi:10.4039/n06-098. ISSN 1918-3240. S2CID 86748199.
Nicholas Culpeper Culpeper's Complete Herbal, and English Physician (1826), p. 37, at Google Books
Staub, Jack E. (2008). 75 Exceptional Herbs for Your Garden. Gibbs Smith. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-4236-0251-4.
Chives, from "Sally's place", accessed on June 13, 2006
"Chives". sallys-place.com.