Garlic
Family Alliaceae
Allium sativum, garlic (A. sativum 1) (A. sativum 2), is the second most widely used Allium, principally as a condiment for flavouring other foods. The leaves are flat, the flowers are pinkish-white (A. sativum 3). Garlic bulbs are made up of several cloves enclosed within the ‘ skin’ of the parent bulb.
Distribution and use
Garlic is believed to have originated in Central Asia and was popular in ancient Egypt. In medieval Europe it was widely used to improve the taste and flavour of salted meat and fish. It was also regarded as a powerful antidote against poisons and as a medicine against leprosy. Now it is grown and used mainly in countries bordering the Mediterranean.