About Allium macrostemon Bunge
Allium macrostemon Bunge has multiple common names, including Japanese wild onion, spring onion, green onion, Chinese garlic, Japanese garlic, and long-stamen onion. It is also known by the Chinese common name 野蒜 and the Japanese common name ノビル. It is a species of wild onion that is widespread across much of East Asia. Its confirmed distribution covers many parts of China, Japan (including the Ryukyu Islands), Korea, Mongolia, Tibet, and Primorye. Specimens have been collected from elevations between sea level and 3000 m. This species produces a single round bulb up to 2 cm in diameter. Its scape reaches up to 70 cm in height. Its leaves are shorter than the scape; they are long, hollow, and round or triangular in cross-section. It forms a large, crowded umbel that holds many pale red or pale purple flowers. Allium macrostemon is listed in the ancient Chinese text Huangdi Neijing as one of the five consumable herbs called 五菜. The other four herbs in this group are mallow (Malva verticillata, 葵), pea leaves (藿), Welsh onion (蔥), and garlic chives (韭).
