About Allium fistulosum L.
Allium fistulosum, commonly known as the Welsh onion, has other common names including bunching onion, long green onion, Japanese bunching onion, and spring onion. It is a perennial plant species, and is often classified as a type of scallion. This species has very similar taste and odor to the related common onion, Allium cepa, and hybrids between these two species, called tree onions, exist. Unlike Allium cepa, Allium fistulosum does not develop bulbs, and its leaves and scapes are hollow — the specific epithet fistulosum means 'hollow'. Larger varieties of A. fistulosum, like the Japanese negi, resemble leeks, while smaller varieties resemble chives. A. fistulosum reproduces by forming perennial evergreen clumps, and it is also grown in bunches as an ornamental plant. A. fistulosum is used as a culinary ingredient in Asian cuisine, especially in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is especially important in China, Japan, and Korea, which is the origin of one of its common English names, Japanese bunching onion. In Western regions, A. fistulosum is primarily used as a scallion or salad onion, while it sees much more widespread use across other parts of the world, particularly in East Asia.
