Alliums

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genus of flowering plants in the onion family, known for having bulbous roots and strong flavors, which includes garlic and leeks
2. A group of plants characterized by their distinctive floral structures and strong aromatic properties, often used in culinary dishes
3. A family of plants that typically feature a central stalk with clusters of star-shaped flowers, popular for their culinary and ornamental uses

Etymology: "Alliums" is the plural of "allium", a word that names the genus of plants that includes garlic, onions, leeks, chives and shallots. The plural simply counts several members of that genus, or several such genera. The English form is borrowed from the Latin "allium", which was the classical name for garlic, and the same Latin word underlies the modern taxonomic genus name Allium, which botanists adopted to cover the whole group. The Latin word itself is generally traced back to a root for garlic that also gave rise to words in other European languages, so the pungent smell of the plants is built into the name. Scientists then applied the term to the wider family of bulbs that share that sharp scent, which is why a genus that includes ornamental flowers such as ornamental alliums also carries a word meant for kitchen staples.