Find more Latin words at wordhippo.com! The only name unambiguously connected with the triploid onion is A. onion. [10] A number of synonyms have appeared in its taxonomic history: A. cepa is known exclusively from cultivation,[6] but related wild species occur in Central Asia. Phosphorus is often present in sufficient quantities, but may be applied before planting because of its low level of availability in cold soils. In this environment, cooking onions have a shelf life of three to four weeks and sweet onions one to two weeks. [63], The onion fly (Delia antiqua) lays eggs on the leaves and stems and on the ground close to onion, shallot, leek, and garlic plants. Its English name, chives, derives from the French word cive, from cepa, the Latin word for onion. #1 “The origin of the name "onion” comes from the classical period when it was given the Latin name unio that means oneness or unity, or a kind of single onion. Southern European and North African varieties are often known as "intermediate-day" types, requiring only 12–13 hours of daylight to stimulate bulb formation. Categories: Plants and Flowers Food and Eating If you want to know how to say onion in Latin, you will find the translation here. In the autumn (or in spring, in the case of overwintering onions), the foliage dies down and the outer layers of the bulb become dry and brittle. The bulbs can be gathered when needed to eat fresh, but if they will be stored, they are harvested after the leaves have died back naturally. Cipollini Onion and Onion common names in Hindi, in French, in German is different. [36], Most onion cultivars are about 89% water, 9% carbohydrates (including 4% sugar and 2% dietary fibre), 1% protein, and negligible fat (table). Arkansas These break down amino acid sulfoxides and generate sulfenic acids. They add flavour to such dishes as stews, roasts, soups, and salads and are also served as a cooked vegetable. The larvae tunnel into the bulbs and the foliage wilts and turns yellow. The tree onion or Egyptian onion produces bulblets in the umbel instead of flowers, and is now known to be a hybrid of A. cepa and A. fistulosum. (The usual Latin word for pearl was "margarita.") Irrespective of type, any cut pieces of onion are best tightly wrapped, stored away from other produce, and used within two to three days.[42]. Most traditional European onions are referred to as "long-day" onions, producing bulbs only after 14 hours or more of daylight occurs. [72][3]:19 It has been grown for centuries in Japan and China for use as a salad onion. The crop is harvested and dried and the onions are ready for use or storage. [45] However, since the LFS-silencing process involves reducing sulfur ingestion by the plant, it has also been suggested that LFS− onions are inferior in flavor. The onion plant has been grown and selectively bred in cultivation for at least 7,000 years. They are propagated almost exclusively from daughter bulbs, although reproduction from seed is possible. Boiled and pickled onions are packed in cans or jars. Confusion on plants often arises when there are multiple common names for the same plant. The bulbs may be affected by splitting, white rot, and neck rot. [31][32] Onions are therefore commonly used in science education to teach the use of a microscope for observing cell structure. Herb: Wild Onion Latin name: Allium mutabile Family: Alliaceae (Onion Family) Medicinal use of Wild Onion: Although no specific mention of medicinal uses has been seen for this species, members of this genus are in general very healthy additions to the diet. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. In 2008, the New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research created "no tears" onions by genetic modification to prevent the synthesis of lachrymatory factor synthase in onions. It is a genus of monocotyledonous flowering plants which includes this vegetable. [52] Synthetic onion lachrymatory factor has been used in a study related to tear production,[53] and has been proposed as a nonlethal deterrent against thieves and intruders. Although the bulbs and leaves of this plant were once used in cooking (stews) or eaten raw, nodding onion is not generally considered to be of culinary value today. It is a biennial plant, but is usually grown as an annual. CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research, Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, "Chapter 1: Evolution, Domestication, and Taxonomy", "Approximate pH Values of Common Foods and Ingredients", "Onion Cultivation and Production in Iran", "A review on the materials used during the mummification process in ancient Egypt", "The Difference between Yellow, White, and Red Onions", "Onion epidermis as a new model to study the control of growth anisotropy in higher plants", "A rapid, highly efficient and economical method of Agrobacterium-mediated in planta transient transformation in living onion epidermis", "What is the chemical process that causes my eyes to tear when I peel an onion? The seeds are glossy black and triangular in cross section. Most of these disorders are best treated by removing and burning affected plants. They are at their broadest about a quarter of the way up, beyond which they taper towards a blunt tip. Author E. Block explains in his book "Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science" that the Latin root of the word onion, "unio," means one or unity, and the plant was given this name because it grows from a single bulb. early 12c., ungeon, oinyon, unione, "the underground bulb of the common onion plant," from Anglo-French union, Old French oignon "onion" (formerly also oingnon), and directly from Latin unionem (nominative unio), a colloquial rustic Roman word for a kind of onion, also "pearl" (via the notion of a string of onions), literally "one, unity. proliferum, A. cepa var. [21][19][failed verification] Ancient Egyptians revered the onion bulb, viewing its spherical shape and concentric rings as symbols of eternal life. Common onions are normally available in three colour varieties: While the large, mature onion bulb is most often eaten, onions can be eaten at immature stages. Latin words for onion include cepa, cepe, caepe and caepa. [61] Certain cultivars used for growing and storing bulbs may not have such good storage characteristics as those grown directly from seed. The leaves are yellowish- to bluish green and grow alternately in a flattened, fan-shaped swathe. The Old Welsh form of this name was Enniaun, which is ultimately derived from the Latin name Annianus. This small-bulb type has a shallot-like flavour and is easy to grow and ideal for hot, dry climates. [64], The onion eelworm (Ditylenchus dipsaci), a tiny parasitic soil-living nematode, causes swollen, distorted foliage. Bulbs are separated, and planted in the fall 1 in below the surface and 12 in apart. ; Denton, O.A. The onion is likely native to southwestern Asia but is now grown throughout the world, chiefly in the temperate zones. [19], Considerable differences exist between onion varieties in phytochemical content, particularly for polyphenols, with shallots having the highest level, six times the amount found in Vidalia onions. The scientific name of Red Onion is the botanical name or formal name. For other uses, see, "Onions" redirects here. Onion, (Allium cepa), herbaceous biennial plant in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), grown for its edible bulb. An alternative view is that it is based on the Celtic word “all” meaning pungent. Sweet onions can be stored refrigerated; they have a shelf life of around 1 month. Forming a single layer of cells, the bulb epidermis is easy to separate for educational, experimental, and breeding purposes. For that reason, it can be helpful to identify the scientific name for the plant in question, also called botanical or latin name. He documented Roman beliefs about the onion's ability to improve ocular ailments, aid in sleep, and heal everything from oral sores and toothaches to dog bites, lumbago, and even dysentery. ---Description--- The plant is a hardy perennial. Bulbing usually takes place after 12 to 18 weeks. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/plant/onion-plant, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - Aggie Horticulture - Onion Planting, LiveScience - Onions: Health Benefits, Health Risks and Nutrition Facts, Nevada Women's History Project - Biography of Dat-So-La-Lee, onion - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), onion - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). …sprouts; a bulb, such as onion and garlic; a petiole or leafstalk, such as celery and rhubarb; a leaf, such as cabbage, lettuce, parsley, spinach, and chive; an immature flower, such as cauliflower,…, …such perishable vegetables as the onion, potato, and sweet potato.…. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, insects. The genus Allium refers to was first officially described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Being dehydrated, it has a long shelf life and is available in several varieties: yellow, red, and white.[27]. Scientific name is the name conforming to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). Depending on the mature size and the purpose for which the onion is used, these may be referred to as pearl, boiler, or pickler onions, but differ from true pearl onions which are a different species. [46], A method for efficiently differentiating LFS− and LFS+ onions has been developed based on mass spectrometry, with potential application in high-volume production;[47] gas chromatography is also used to measure lachrymatory factor in onions. Potato onions differ from shallots in forming larger bulbs with fewer bulbs per cluster, and having a flattened (onion-like) shape. Young plants may be harvested before bulbing occurs and used whole as spring onions or scallions. [3]:19 Various clones of the triploid onion are grown locally in different regions, such as 'Ljutika' in Croatia, and 'Pran', 'Poonch', and 'Srinagar' in the India-Kashmir region. These resting structures remain in the soil to reinfect a future crop. [25], Additionally, onions may be bred and grown to mature at smaller sizes. The site should not be used for growing onions again for several years and should also be avoided for growing carrots, parsnips, and beans, which are also susceptible to the eelworm. [70] Common onions range from the pungent varieties used for dried soups and onion powder to the mild and hearty sweet onions, such as the Vidalia from Georgia, USA, or Walla Walla from Washington that can be sliced and eaten raw on a sandwich. Onions are low in nutrients but are valued for their flavour and are used widely in cooking. [2][3]:21, Its close relatives include the garlic, scallion, leek, chive,[4] and Chinese onion.[5]. 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