Did I just refer to onions as vegetables? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. That was a great explanation of the structure of the bulb, but I think it would be wrong to refer to the onion plant solely as a bulb. 2008, 56(22): 10462-10467. So maybe an onion is a vegetable after all. They have small branches with leaves on them and these branches grow close to each other. And … Shams-Ghahfarokhi, M., M. R. Shokoohamiri, N. Amirrajab, et al. Breu W, Dorsch W. Allium cepa L. (Onion): Chemistry, analysis and pharmacology. But just as the tomatoes are considered fruits from the botanical point of view and not vegetables because they are formed from a flower and contain seeds, I might also be wrong about onions. So based on the above definition, can an onion be actually a fruit? A. schoenoprasum is the only species of Allium … How To Plant Fall Onions Soil Preparation. Herbs vs Shrubs. Basically, Abhishek stated that onions are actually a combination of stem and scale leaves. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. J. Food Chem. The following two tabs change content below. Evidence for an in vitro Anticoagulant Activity of Red Onion (Allium cepa L.), Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences. But before diving into the facts, let me tell you how I got into this dilemma. Eur. Let’s see what we can find out from the definition of a vegetable. You will also find sage widely used in European cuisine, Middle Eastern cookery, and Italian dishes. Takahashi, M, and T. hibamoto. 17 Best and Worst Companion Plants For Onions, 5 Best Lawn Leveling Rakes For Fixing Your Bumpy Lawn. After all, it grows in the ground, isn’t it? A shrub has many stems and may grow in a height of up to five to six metres. Or roots, or bulbs? Vegetables are usually grouped according to the portion of the plant that is eaten such as leaves (lettuce), stem (celery), roots (carrot), tubers (potato), bulbs (onion) and flowers (broccoli). So, is onion a fruit, a vegetable, a root, or a bulb, or anything else? A number of synonyms have appeared in its taxonomic history: Growing great onions, whether in the spring or fall, all starts with great soil. All Rights Reserved! Anna is passionate about flowers, nutrition, organic food, and everything related to gardening. They can be grown either in parks or gardens. A. Budhiarta, et al.Metabolic effects of onion and green beans on diabetic patients. Partner, Advertising & Commercial Relationships, other cell signal inducers or inhibitors (e.g., hormone blockers). A number of synonyms have appeared in its taxonomic history: Allium cepa var. A perennial plant, it is widespread in nature across much of Europe, Asia, and North America. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Indian journal of medical research, 1977, 65:422–429. This makes it a good herbal remedy to help treat some cardiovascular conditions. Boyle, S. P., V. L. Dobson, S. J. Duthie, et al. 9 Herbs That Grow in The Shade. In: Wagner H, Farnsworth NR, eds. What is your opinion? Growing herbs is a simple way to add edible plants to your garden. Kelkar SM, Kaklij GS, Bapat VA. Onion extract is a known as a blood anticoagulant. Still, there is one problem left. Let’s get back to our main enigma though. 2001, 38(4): 277-279. Onions, grow best in loose, fertile, and well-drained soil. J. Nutr. Immunol. The antimicrobial activity of garlic and onion extracts. Green Onions (Allium schoenoprasum) is a low-maintenance, easy-to-grow perennial herb grown for its onion-flavored leaves.They are a delicious addition to salads and can be added to many other salty dishes. Trends in pharmacological sciences (TIPS), 1984, 5: 335–338. Green onions have numerous properties, as an antibacterial agent and excellent expectorant. Basil and rosemary have quite a distinctive look so it’s easy to remember what they are. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Although botany distinguishes true roots (such as taproots and tuberous roots) from non-roots (such as bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers, although some contain both hypocotyl and taproot tissue), the term “root vegetable” is applied to all these types in agricultural and culinary usage. A trained scuba diver and researcher, Thor's has a keen interest in nature conservation and animal/plant protection. Rosemary Onions (the part inside the ground) do not include seeds, nor they form directly from a flower. Is an onion a vegetable or a fruit? Their close relatives include the common onions, garlic, shallot, leek, scallion, and Chinese onion. Therefore, none of these definitions seem to include onions in the fruit category. Here is a look at how to plant for success when it comes to fall onions. Therefore, because the leaves are also edible, I think it would be wrong to refer to the onion (the entire plant) as a bulb, but we can say a bulb of onion when we refer particularly to the fleshy part of the onion plant that grows in the ground. On top of the long stalk, greenish-white flowers are present in the … While I was randomly browsing the vast Internet a few days ago, I stumbled upon a discussion forum where a few people were heavily debating whether onions are vegetables or fruits. Root and bulb are just parts of the full onion plant, just like the leaves. The onion plant (Allium cepa), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium.It was first officially described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 work Species Plantarum. Med. He also said that the stem of onion is discoid (disc-shaped) and it is an underground alteration of the stem which falls under the classification of a bulb. Most of the popular herbs, like basil and lavender, need to be grown in full sunlight, but that doesn’t mean all herbs need tons of sun. What is it? You’ll have to be persistent to get rid of this surprisingly resilient weed, but with patience and time, it can be done. Wait! Although I think this definition of a vegetable is a bit vague, they give us the perfect example of onions as bulbs. Your email address will not be published. I don’t know about you but I have always associated the onions with the vegetables and I find onions in the vegetable section of the grocery store when I go shopping. Most people know the names of a few fresh herbs that are most commonly used in recipes. The onion plant (Allium cepa), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Geobios, 1980, 7:46–47. Or, use thyme to bring depth to a simple onion quiche, or onion-flavored bread. He's an experienced Biologist with a history of working in the environmental services industry. Thor Sturluson has a BS in Biology, majoring in Botany, from the University of Maine and a masters degree in Zoology from the Open University in London. Well, that’s the great question of today. https://foodal.com/recipes/pickles-and-fermentations/shrubs-drinking-vinegars These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It was first officially described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 work Species Plantarum. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. We use it in many food recipes, almost every gardener grows it in his garden, we can eat every part of it, is healthy whether it is raw or cooked, plus consuming it brings us numerous health benefits. Aren’t onions actually fruits? In conclusion, because it does not meet the definition of fruit and we cannot say that the whole plant is a bulb (as it also has edible leaves), we can categorize onions as vegetables. The onion plant is a perennial herb growing to about 1.2 m, with 4 to 6 hollow, cylindrical leaves.