Bulb onion
A temperate plant. It is more easy to get onions to grow and form bulbs in the highlands in the tropics but they can be grown from sea level to 2600 m altitude in Papua New Guinea. In Nepal they grow to 3000 m altitude. They do not suit the wet humid tropics. Because the day lengths are short near the equator, onions often do not produce a bulb. Some newer varieties will yield in the tropics. It plant grows best at 12-21°C and the bulb forms best at 15-25°C. It grows best with a pH 5.7-6.6. It suits hardiness zones 5-10.
Also known as:
Albasa, Anyezi, Basal, Bawang, Besalim, Butungulu, Cebola, Cebolla, Cebula, Chivannaulli, Cibule, Cipolla, Dungari, Irulli, Kanda, Kuchen zweibel, Kywtthun-ni, Luk, Mangafaka, Nirulli, Oignon, Palandu, Piyaz, Pyaj, Pyanj, Pyaz, Sogan, Sybo, Talap, Tamanegi, Tongolobe, Tschong, Ulligaddalu, Ullikadalu, Vengayam, Yang cong, Yangpa
Synonyms
- Allium angolense Baker
- Allium aobanum Araki
- and others
Edible Portion
- Leaves, Bulbs, Seeds, Herb, Spice, Vegetable, Flowers
Where does Bulb onion grow?
Found in: Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Amazon, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Britain, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, China, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, FSM, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guam, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Senegal, Serbia, Sikkim, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, United States, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Notes: There are about 300-700 Allium species. Most species of Allium are edible (Flora of China). All alliums are edible but they may not all be worth eating! They have also been put in the family Alliaceae.
Status: In Papua New Guinea, it is not widely grown but is popular and imported for sale. It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.
Growing Bulb onion
Cultivation: They are grown from imported seed. For bulbs, a tropical cultivar is needed and bulbing is normally better at higher altitudes. Cultivars which form flowers early need to be avoided. Seedlings can be transplanted.
Edible Uses: The bulbs and leaves are used as flavouring raw or cooked. The flowers are crushed and eaten.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | - | 1.4 | 0.5 | 49 | - | 0.5 | 90 |
| Bulbs raw | 24 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0 | 10 | 0.1 | 92.8 |
| Bulbs boiled | 13 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0 | 6 | 0.1 | 96.6 |
| Bulbs | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Bulb onion Photos
References
Ali, A. M. S., 2005, Homegardens in Smallholder Farming Systems: Examples from Bangladesh. Human Ecology, Vol. 33, No. 2 pp. 245-270
Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 28
Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p
Ara, R. I. T., 2015, Leafy Vegetables in Bangladesh. Photon eBooks. p 46 f
Bernholt, H. et al, 2009, Plant species richness and diversity in urban and peri-urban gardens of Niamey, Niger. Agroforestry Systems 77:159-179
Bianchini, F., Corbetta, F., and Pistoia, M., 1975, Fruits of the Earth. Cassell. p 82
Bodner, C. C. and Gereau, R. E., 1988, A Contribution to Bontoc Ethnobotany. Economic Botany, 43(2): 307-369
Brown, D., 2002, The Royal Horticultural Society encyclopedia of Herbs and their uses. DK Books. p 113
Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3. Kew.
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 101
Bussman, R. W., et al, 2016, A comparative ethnobotany of Khevsureti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Tusheti, Svaneti, and Racha-Lechkhumi, Republic of Georgia (Sakartvelo), Caucasus. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2016) 12:43
Bussman, R. W. et al, 2017, Ethnobotany of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Sakartvelo (Republic of Georgia), Caucasus. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol. 16(1) pp 7-24
Call, C. A., et al, 2004, Participatory Rural Appraisal in the Upland Ecosystem of Mt Malindang, Misamis Occidental, Philippines. Biodiversity Research Programme for Development in Mindanao. p 53
Cheifetz, A., (ed), 1999, 500 popular vegetables, herbs, fruits and nuts for Australian Gardeners. Random House p 30
Chen Xinqi, Liang Songyun, Xu Jiemei, Tamura M.N., Liliaceae. Flora of China. p 123
Chin, H. F., 1999, Malaysian Vegetables in Colour. Tropical Press. p 36
Cobley, L.S. (rev. Steele, W.M.) 2nd Ed., 1976, An Introduction to the Botany of Tropical Crops. Longmans. p 148
Coe, F. G. and Anderson, G. J., 1999, Ethnobotany of the Sumu (Ulwa) of Southeastern Nicaragua and Comparisons with Miskitu Plant Lore. Economic Botany Vol. 53. No. 4. pp. 363-386
Dansi, A., et al, 2008, Traditional leafy vegetables and their use in the Benin Republic. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2008) 55:1239–1256
Ertug, F., 2004, Wild Edible Plants of the Bodrum Area. (Mugla, Turkey). Turk. J. Bot. 28 (2004): 161-174
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 5
Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org
Foo, J.T.S.(ed), 1996, A Guide to Common Vegetables. Singapore Science Foundation. p 104
Fowler, D. G., 2007, Zambian Plants: Their Vernacular Names and Uses. Kew. p 64
French, B., 1986, Food Plants of Papua New Guinea, Asia Pacific Science Foundation p 123
Hadfield, J., 2001, The A-Z of Vegetable Gardening in South Africa. Struik p 112
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 34
Hepper, E.N., 1993, Illustrated Encyclopedia of Bible Plants, IVP, England. p 126
Hide, R., et al, 1979, A checklist of some plants in the territory of the Sinasina Nimai (Simbai Province, Papua New Guinea), with ntoes on their uses. Department Anthropology, University of Aukland
Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 311
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 52 (As Allium angolense)
Kayabasi, N. P., et al, 2018, Wild edible plants and their traditional use in the human nutrition in Manyas (Turkey). Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. Vol. 17(2), April 2018, pp 299-306
Kapelle, M., et al, 2000, Useful plants within a Campesino Community in a Costa Rican Montane Cloud Forest. Mountain Research and Development, 20(2): 162-171
Kays, S. J., and Dias, J. C. S., 1995, Common Names of Commercially Cultivated Vegetables of the World in 15 languages. Economic Botany, Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 115-152
Khodram,S. D., et al, 2019, Local knowledge of edible flowers used in Mizoram. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol 18(40 pp 715-723
Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 433
Kumar, A., et al, 2012, Ethnobotanical Edible Plant Biodiversity of Lepcha Tribes. Indian Forester, 138 (9):798-803
Kybal, J., 1980, Herbs and Spices, A Hamlyn Colour Guide, Hamlyn Sydney p 20
Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 13
Macmillan, H.F. (Revised Barlow, H.S., et al), 1991, Tropical Planting and Gardening. Sixth edition. Malayan Nature Society. Kuala Lumpur. p 366
Manandhar, N.P., 2002, Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. p 81
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 43, p 201 (As Allium angolense)
McCollum, G.D., 1979, Onions and allies, in Simmonds N.W.,(ed), Crop Plant Evolution. Longmans. London. p 186
Mertz, O., Lykke, A. M., and Reenberg, A., 2001, Importance and Seasonality of Vegetable Consumption and Marketing in Burkina Faso. Economic Botany, 55(2):276-289
Miguel, E., et al, 1989, A checklist of the cultivated plants of Cuba. Kulturpflanze 37. 1989, 211-357
Mulherin, J., 1994, Spices and natural flavourings. Tiger Books, London. p 70
Murtem, G. & Chaudhrey, P., 2016, An ethnobotanical note on wild edible plants of Upper Eastern Himalaya, India. Brazilian Journal of Biological Sciences, 2016, v. 3, no. 5, p. 63-81
Omawale, 1973, Guyana's edible plants. Guyana University, Georgetown p 70
Oran, S. A. S., 2015, Selected Wild Aromatic Plants in Jordan. International Journal of Medicinal Plants. Photon 108 (2015) 686-699
Pieroni, A., 2008, Local plant resources in the ethnobotany of Theth, a village in the Northern Albanian Alps. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2008) 55:1197–1214
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK.
Purseglove, J.W., 1972, Tropical Crops. Monocotyledons. Longmans p 38
Rao, M. L. S., et al, 2014, Indigenous Plant Foods which are commonly consumed by the tribal communities in Dumbriguda Area of Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Biolife. Vol 2, Issue 3
Rashid, H. E., 1977, Geography of Bangladesh. Westview. p 270
Ruiters-Welcome, A. K., 2019, Food plants of southern Africa. Ph.D. thesis. Univ. of Johannesburg p 8
Schneider, E., 2001, Vegetables from Amaranth to Zucchini: The essential reference. HarperCollins. p 439
Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 16 (As Allium angolense)
Sharma, B.B., 2005, Growing fruits and vegetables. Publications Division. Ministry of Information and broadcasting. India. p 152
Siemonsma, J. S. and Piluek, K. (Eds), 1994, Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 8 Vegetables. Prosea Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia, p 68
Small, E., 2009, Top 100 Food Plants. The world's most important culinary crops. NRC Research Press. p 377
Smith, A.C., 1979, Flora Vitiensis Nova, Lawaii, Kuai, Hawaii, Volume 1 p 147
Staples, G.W. and Herbst, D.R., 2005, A tropical Garden Flora. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. p 680
Sukenti, K., et al, 2016, Ethnobotanical study on local cuisine of the Sasak tribe in Lombok Island, Indonesia. Journal of Ethnic Foods. 3 (2016) 189-200 p 198
Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 19, p 20 (As Allium angolense)
Tindall, H.D., & Williams, J.T., 1977, Tropical Vegetables and their Genetic Resources, International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, Rome, p 55
Tindall, H.D., 1983, Vegetables in the tropics. Macmillan p. 20
Tsering, J., et al, 2017, Ethnobotanical appraisal on wild edible plants used by the Monpa community of Arunchal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. Vol 16(4), October 2017, pp 626-637
Tyagi, R. K., et al, 2004, Conservation of Spices Germplasm in India. Indian J. Plant Genet. Resour. 17(3): 163-174
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/econ.pl (10 April 2000)
Vael, L., 2015, Ethnobotanical study of the plant use in the natural landscape of two mestizo communities in the Ucayali region of the Peruvian Amazon. Universiteit Gent.
Vermeulen, N, 1998, The Complete Encyclopedia of Herbs. Rebo Publishers. p 34
Vickery, M.L. and Vickery, B., 1979, Plant Products of Tropical Africa, Macmillan. p 47
Vlkova, M., et al, 2015, Edible Plants Sold on Marginal Rural Markets in Fergana Valley, Southern Kyrgyzstan. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 21 (No 2) 2015, 243–250
Walter, A. & Lebot, V., 2007, Gardens of Oceania. ACIAR Monograph No. 122. p 223
Wild edible plants of Himachal Pradesh
Williamson, J., 2005, Useful Plants of Malawi. 3rd. Edition. Mdadzi Book Trust. p 20
Woodward, P., 1996, Garlic and Friends. The History, Growth and Use of Edible Alliums. Hyland House. p 102
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Youssef, R. S. A., 2013, Medicinal and non-medicinal uses of some plants found in the middle region of Saudi Arabia. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. Vol. 7(34), pp. 2501-2517