| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hitherto available sources from literature mentioned several wild growing <it>Allium </it>species as "edible" or "medicinally used" but without any further specification.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>New data were gained during recent research missions: <it>Allium </it>plants were collected and shown to the local population which was asked for names and usage of these plants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Information was collected about current medical applications of sixteen wild species, nine of which belong to different sections of <it>Allium </it>subgenus <it>Melanocrommyum</it>. These plants are used against headache, cold, and stomach problems, and are mostly applied fresh or after boiling.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Close taxonomic relatives of the common onion were used similar to cultivated onion species, but medical use like garlic was mostly reported for species taxonomically not related to garlic.</p>
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