Allium victorialis

Bulbous plant of the Amaryllidaceae family, found in Central and Southern Europe, Central Asia, and the Far East, in high-altitude megaphorbia, cool mountain undergrowth, and moist grassy slopes, generally between 1000 and 2500 meters.

It is distinguished by its broad, elliptical leaves, reminiscent of those of lily of the valley or wild garlic but more leathery and longer-lasting, sheathed at the base with a characteristic reticulated fibrous tunic. The umbels are globular, bearing numerous small greenish-white to whitish-yellow flowers, on stems 30-60 cm tall, in June-July. The garlic scent is pronounced on all parts of the plant.

A plant steeped in symbolic history, it was considered in the Middle Ages as a protector against evil spirits and worn as an amulet by knights — its epithet victorialis evokes this reputation as a plant of victory. In gardening, it is suitable for cool undergrowth and shaded borders with deep, humus-rich soil.