Nothoscordum siculum(Ucria) auct., published anonymously
Trigonea sicula(Ucria) Parl.
Nectaroscordum bulgaricumJanka
Allium meliophilumJuz.
Nectaroscordum meliophilum(Juz.) Stank.
Allium dioscoridisSm.
Nectaroscordum dioscoridis(Sm.) Stankov
Allium siculum (syn.Nectaroscordum siculum), known ashoney garlic,[4]Sicilian honey lily,Sicilian honey garlic, orMediterranean bells, is aEuropean andTurkish species of plant in the genusAllium. It is native to the regions around theMediterranean andBlack Seas, and grown in other regions as an ornamental and as a culinary herb.[1]
It has showy clusters of gracefully drooping bell-shaped blossoms produced in May to early June sitting atop a tall green stem, to 1.2 m in height. The florets (blossoms), suspended on long droopingpedicels, are cream colored with a maroon streak down each petal, have white flared tips, and are tinted green at the base. The blossoms are followed by decorative, erect seed pods in late summer. The blue-gray foliage is triangular in cross-section and strongly twisting along the length of the ascending leaves.[5][6] A penetrating, skunky odor is released when the plant is cut.
Allium siculum is grown as anornamental inflower gardens.[11] It has showy, drooping blossoms, with eachumbel (clusters offlowers on stalks originating in the same place)[12] having up to 30 individual flowers,[11] which are white, pink, and green in colour.[13] Although the flowers initially face downwards, they turn to face upwards just before forming seedheads.[14] It also has unusual twistedfoliage.[15] Unlike the majority of otherAllium species,A. siculum grows well in shade.[16]
Similarly toonions when chopped, ifAllium siculum is crushed it gives offvolatile organic compounds that make the eyes water,[citation needed] which aretermed 'lachrymatory agents'.[20][21] The lachrymatory agent (Z)-butanethialS-oxide, along with several 1-butenylthiosulfinates are detected by mass spectrometry using aDART ion source. (Z)-ButanethialS-oxide (the higher homolog ofsyn-propanethial-S-oxide, the onion lachrymatory agent) isolated from the plant was shown to be identical to a synthetic sample. The precursor to the lachrymatory compound, (RS,RC)-(E)-S-(1-butenyl) cysteineS-oxide (homoisoalliin), was isolated from homogenates ofA. siculum, and a closely related species,Allium tripedale, and fully characterized.[22][23]
A. siculum is not eaten bygrazing animals, such asdeer; this is thought to be because of thesulfur compounds discussed above.[11]
^Kubec, R.; Kim, S.; McKeon, D. M.; Musah, R. A. (2002). "Isolation ofS-butylcysteine sulfoxide and six butyl-containing thiosulfinates fromAllium siculum".Journal of Natural Products.65 (7):960–964.doi:10.1021/np020064i.PMID12141853.
^Kubec, R.; Cody, R. B.; Dane, A. J.; Musah, R. A.; Schraml, J.; Vattekkatte, A.; Block, E. (2010). "Applications of DART Mass Spectrometry inAllium Chemistry. (Z)-ButanethialS-Oxide and 1-Butenyl Thiosulfinates and theirS-(E)-1-ButenylcysteineS-Oxide Precursor fromAllium siculum".Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.58 (2):1121–1128.doi:10.1021/jf903733e.PMID20047275.
