Overview

The most frequently grown member of the genus Allium is the onion, often known as the common onion or bulb onion (Allium cepa L., from the Latin cepa meaning “onion”).

Allium cepa is the botanical name for onions. It is a vegetable that goes by bulb onion and common onion. It belongs to the Allium genus and is a commonly cultivated plant. Onion plants can be biennial or perennial. Garlic, or Allium sativum, is a member of the Allium genus. They are part of the Liliaceae family.

There are 600 species of flowering plants in the Liliaceae genus, 50 of which are utilised as vegetables and spices.

Allium species, including leeks (Allium ampeloprasum), scallions (Allium fistulosum), shallots (Allium cepa var. aggregatum), garlic (Allium sativum), and onions (Allium cepa) have potent transmission inhibition antioxidant capacity from allylsulfenic acid, a decomposition component of allicin.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Eukaryota
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Spermatophyta
Subphylum	Angiospermae
Class	Monocotyledonae
Order	Liliales
Family	Liliaceae
Genus	Allium
Species	Allium cepa

Allium Family or Liliaceae

Within the order Liliales, the family Liliaceae, is made up of around 15 genera and 610 species of blooming plants.

The Liliaceae are classified as perennial, monocotyledonous, herbaceous, flowering plants having simple trichomes (root hairs), contractile roots, and bulbous (or rhizomatous) structures. The flowers are hypogynous, pedicellate, actinomorphic or zygomorphic, and bisexual. Except for Medeoleae, most flowers are large and colourful. In most cases, the petals and sepals resemble one another, appearing as two concentric whorls of “petals” that are frequently striped or multicoloured and secrete nectar at their bases.

A. cepa L. (Liliaceae), commonly called the common onion or bulb onion, is a vegetable that is the most frequently harvested species of the genus Allium and likely originates from Central Asia. Onions are grown and used all over the world. A. cepa produces bulbs which is a vegetable that has reportedly been consumed widely for thousands of years.

The history of the taxonomy of the Liliaceae is extremely complicated. The family was initially identified in the eighteenth century, and numerous new genera were added throughout time, making it one of the largest and most diversified monocotyledon families.

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Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Which family does onion belong to?

Allium cepa is the botanical name for onions. It is a vegetable that goes by the names bulb onion and common onion. It belongs to the Allium genus and is a commonly cultivated plant. Onion plants can be biennial or perennial. Onion belongs to the family of Liliaceae.

What is Allium cepa used for?

The perennial herb known as the onion or Allium cepa is high in dietary fibre and is a member of the Liliaceae family. Magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin B6, folic acid, and other vitamins and minerals are present in high concentrations. Asthma, bronchitis, and gastrointestinal diseases are all treated with Allium cepa. 50 g of fresh or 20 g of dried onions should be consumed orally daily. Fresh bulbs or an extract of them are also applied topically to treat warts and insect stings.

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