Liliaceae

A. atroviolaceum Boiss., Diagn. ser. I(7):1l2 (1846). Syn: A. ampelo-prasum L. var. atroviolaceum (Boiss.) Regel, All. Monogr. 54(1875)! Ic: Fl. RPR II: t. 38 f. 2 (1966); Israel J. Bot. 29:272, f. 3 (1971); Rech. ffl., Fl. Iranica76: t. 6 f. 81 (1971). Figure 6. Map 21.
Bulb ovoid, 1-2.5 cm diam.; outer tunics greyish-brown, membranous, becoming fibrous and prolonged upon stem; bulblets yellowish-brown. Stem 50-100 cm. Leaves 3-5, 2-10 mm broad, flat, with scabridulous keel and margins. Spathe 1-valved, soon caducous. Umbel globose, (2.5-)3-6 cm diam., many-flowered, dense. Pedicels unequal, bracteolate at base. Perianth urceo-late-campanulate; segments usually dark purple or biackish-maroon, sometimes vinous-purple, rarely dirty greenish, 3.5-5 mm, outer ovate to oblong, smooth or scabrid, inner ovate, smooth, obtuse. Stamens exserted; median cusp of inner filaments shorter than basal lamina and shorter or as long as lateral cusps. Anthers dark purple. Capsule 2.5 mm. 2n = 16. Fl 6-7(-8). Cultivated fields, vineyards, field and forest margins, meadows, fallow fields, stony slopes, rock crevices, steppic hills, 5-2000 m.
Type: [Iran] in hortis et vineis pagiSabst-Buschom prope Schiraz, Kotschy 450 (holo. G!).
Widespread. A1(E) Kirklareli: 4 km from Vize to Poyralı, N.&E.Özhatay (lSTE 32132)! A2(A) Istanbul: Ortaburun, Yalova to Çinarik, 150 m, Urdl 227! A4 Çankiri: nr Çankiri, 800 m, Bornm. 1929:14660! A5 Amasya: Amasya, Maniss. 1113! A9 Kars: Kars to lğdir, 1 km S. of Ladikara, 1770 m, Buttler 14468! B2 Manisa: Yeşilova to Durasalli, Hub.-Mor. 5682! B3 Eskişehir: 5 km from Eskişehir to Kütahya, 900 m, D. 36061! B4 Ankara: N. end of Tuz G., 900 m, Sorger 70-8-35! B5 Nevşehir: S.E.of Hacıbektaş, 1200 m, Roper47! B6 Maras: N. of Elbistan, 1240m, Hub.-Mor. 12641! B7Malatya: 7 km from Malatya to Sivas, Alava 6876! B8 Muş: 14km W.of Muş, 1250 m, Mertens & Pasche 81/94! B9 Van: nr Pişvanik, 18 km W.of Gevaş, 1750 m, D. 45998! C2 Denizli: 10 km N.W. of Denizli, 300 m, Sorger 65-14-44! C4 Konya: 55 km N. of Çumra towards Çatalhüyük Köyü (Küçükköy), 1010 m, Buttlerl3633! C5lçel: Arslanköy, 1500m,Koyuncu(AEF6191). C6Hatay: lskenderun, 600 m, Koyuncu (AEF 5439).
Eastern C. Europe, Balkans, N. Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Caucasia, C. Asia. Some plants from E. Anatolia (Erzurum and Muş) have been referred by Schischkin (Izv. Tomsk. Univ. 80:431, 1928) to A. firmotunicatum Fomin (A atroviolaceum Boiss. var. firmotunicatum (Fomin) Grossh.). According to Grossheim (FL Kavk. ed. 2, 2:269-270, 1940) this variety grows in more xeric conditions and represents the 'wild' form of A. atroviolaceum, whereas the typical A. atroviolaceum (var. ruderale Grossh.) is confined to more mesic, secondary habitats. Var. firmotunicatum differs in its lower stature, narrower, scabrid leaves and sheaths, fewer-flowered umbel and smaller flowers. These differential characters are not constant in the E. Anatolian (Kars, Erzurum) collections; specimens with narrow leaves and fewer-flowered umbels and ones with broader leaves and larger umbels are to be found on the same sheets.