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Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Its species name derives from the Greek [word]s skhoinos (sedge) and
prason (onion).[3] Its English name, chive, derives from the French
word cive, which was derived from cepa, being the Latin word for
onion.
Culinary uses for chives involve shredding its leaves (straws) for
use as condiment for fish, potatoes and soups. Because of this, it
is a common household herb, frequent in gardens as well as in
grocery stores. It also has insect-repelling properties which can be
used in gardens to control The chive is a bulb-forming herbaceous
perennial plant, growing to 30-50 cm tall. The bulbs are slender
conical, 2-3 cm long and 1 cm broad, and grow in dense clusters from
the roots. The leaves are hollow tubular, up to 50 cm long, and 2-3
mm in diameter, with a soft texture, although, prior to the
emergence of a flower from a leaf, it may appear stiffer than usual.
The flowers are pale purple, star-shaped with six tepals, 1-2 cm
wide, and produced in a dense inflorescence of 10-30 together;
before opening, the inflorescence is surrounded by a papery bract.
The seeds are produced in a small three-valved capsule, maturing in
summer.
Albeit repulsive to insects in general, due to its sulfur compounds,
its flowers are attractive to bees, and it is sometimes kept to
increase desired insect life. |
