About Allium subhirsutum L.
Allium subhirsutum, commonly known as hairy garlic, is a widespread plant species found across the Mediterranean region, ranging from Spain and the Canary Islands to Turkey and Palestine. It is a perennial herb that grows up to 50 cm tall. Its leaves are long, up to 15 mm across, taper toward the tip, and have hairs along their margins, which gives the species its common name "hairy garlic". Its umbel holds only a small number of flowers, which are white with thin pink midveins. Allium subhirsutum is edible and sometimes cultivated in kitchen gardens. Its bulbs can be eaten cooked or added to salads. There are a few reports of toxicity when the plant is consumed in large quantities. Two subspecies are currently recognized: Allium subhirsutum subhirsutum, distributed from Spain and Morocco to Turkey and Palestine, and Allium subhirsutum subsp. obtusitepalum, found only on Alegranza Island in the Canary Islands. Multiple taxa formerly classified under Allium subhirsutum have since been reclassified to other species: Allium subhirsutum var. barcense is now Allium longanum; Allium subhirsutum var. canariense, var. purpurascens, var. vernale, and subsp. subvillosum are now Allium subvillosum; Allium subhirsutum var. glabrum is now Allium neapolitanum; Allium subhirsutum subsp. graecum, var. hirsutum, and subsp. trifoliatum are now Allium trifoliatum; Allium subhirsutum subsp. permixtum is now Allium permixtum; and Allium subhirsutum subsp. spathaceum is now Allium spathaceum.
