Garlic (Allium sativum) is one of the best known herbs around the world. This perennial plant, most often grown as an annual, produces edible bulbs composed of a number of cloves. ... In addition to its culinary attributes, garlic has many healthful benefits. Allicin in the bulbs has antibiotic and antifungal properties.

Is Allium related to garlic?

Allium is a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants that includes hundreds of species, including the cultivated onion, garlic, scallion, shallot, leek, and chives. The generic name Allium is the Latin word for garlic, and the type species for the genus is Allium sativum which means "cultivated garlic".

What are the 5 alliums?

The word Allium is Latin for “garlic.” But the Allium family includes onions, garlic, leeks, scallions, chives, and shallots.