Chives

Chives, scientific name Allium schoenoprasum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae that produces edible leaves and flowers.[3] Their close relatives include the common onions, garlic, shallot, leek, scallion,[4], and Chinese onion.[5]

This article is about the edible plant common in Western cuisine. For the Asian vegetable (garlic chives, Chinese chives) see Allium tuberosum. For other uses see chives (disambiguation)

Chives

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Allioideae
Genus: Allium
Species:
A. schoenoprasum
Binomial name
Allium schoenoprasum
Synonyms[2]
Chives, raw
A clump of flowering chives
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy126 kJ (30 kcal)
4.35 g
Sugars1.85 g
Dietary fiber2.5 g
0.73 g
3.27 g
VitaminsQuantity %DV†
Vitamin A equiv.
27%
218 μg
24%
2612 μg
323 μg
Thiamine (B1)
7%
0.078 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
10%
0.115 mg
Niacin (B3)
4%
0.647 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
6%
0.324 mg
Vitamin B6
11%
0.138 mg
Folate (B9)
26%
105 μg
Vitamin C
70%
58.1 mg
Vitamin E
1%
0.21 mg
Vitamin K
203%
212.7 μg
MineralsQuantity %DV†
Calcium
9%
92 mg
Iron
12%
1.6 mg
Magnesium
12%
42 mg
Manganese
18%
0.373 mg
Phosphorus
8%
58 mg
Potassium
6%
296 mg
Zinc
6%
0.56 mg
Link to USDA Database entry
†Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.
Source: USDA Nutrient Database
Flower with bud
Fully open flower
Chive seeds
Chive seedlings sprouting

A perennial plant, it is widespread in nature across much of Europe, Asia, and North America.[6][7][8][9][10][11]

A. schoenoprasum is the only species of Allium native to both the New and the Old Worlds.[12][13]

Chives are a commonly used herb and can be found in grocery stores or grown in home gardens. In culinary use, the green stalks (scapes) and the unopened, immature flower buds are diced and used as an ingredient for omelettes, fish, potatoes, soups, and many other dishes. The edible flowers can be used in salads.[14] Chives have insect-repelling properties that can be used in gardens to control pests.[15]

The plant provides a great deal of nectar for pollinators. It was rated in the top 10 for most nectar production (nectar per unit cover per year) in a UK plants survey conducted by the AgriLand project which is supported by the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative.[16]

Description

Chives are a bulb-forming herbaceous perennial plant, growing to 30–50 cm (12–20 in) tall. The bulbs are slender, conical, 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1 1⁄4 in) long and 1 cm (1⁄2 in) broad, and grow in dense clusters from the roots. The scapes (or stems) are hollow and tubular, up to 50 cm (20 in) long and 2–3 mm (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) across, with a soft texture, although, prior to the emergence of a flower, they may appear stiffer than usual. The grass-like[14] leaves, which are shorter than the scapes, are also hollow and tubular, or terete, (round in cross-section) which distinguishes it at a glance from garlic chives (Allium tuberosum). The flowers are pale purple, and star-shaped with six petals, 1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) wide, and produced in a dense inflorescence of 10-30 together; before opening, the inflorescence is surrounded by a papery bract. The seeds are produced in a small, three-valved capsule, maturing in summer. The herb flowers from April to May in the southern parts of its habitat zones and in June in the northern parts.[17][18]

Chives are the only species of Allium native to both the New and the Old Worlds. Sometimes, the plants found in North America are classified as A. schoenoprasum var. sibiricum, although this is disputed. Differences between specimens are significant. One example was found in northern Maine growing solitary, instead of in clumps, also exhibiting dingy grey flowers.[19]

Although chives are repulsive to insects in general, due to their sulfur compounds, their flowers attract bees, and they are at times kept to increase desired insect life.[20]

Taxonomy

It was formally described by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal publication Species Plantarum in 1753.[2][21]

The name of the species derives from the Greek σχοίνος, skhoínos (sedge or rush) and πράσον, práson (leek).[22] Its English name, chives, derives from the French word cive, from cepa, the Latin word for onion.[23][14] In the Middle Ages, it was known as 'rush leek'.[14]

It has two known subspecies; Allium schoenoprasum subsp. gredense (Rivas Goday) Rivas Mart., Fern. Gonz. & Sánchez Mata and Allium schoenoprasum subsp. latiorifolium (Pau) Rivas Mart., Fern. Gonz. & Sánchez Mata[2]

Distribution and habitat

Chives are native to temperate areas of Europe, Asia and North America.[24]

Range
Illustration from the Japanese agricultural encyclopedia Seikei Zusetsu (1804)

It is found in Asia within the Caucasus (in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia), also in China, Iran, Iraq, Japan (within the provinces of Hokkaido and Honshu), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russian Federation (within the provinces of Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, and Primorye) Siberia and Turkey.[24]

In middle Europe, it is found within Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. In northern Europe, in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In southeastern Europe, within Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Romania. It is also found in southwestern Europe, in France, Portugal and Spain.[24]

In North America, it is found in Canada (within the provinces and territories of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Yukon), and the United States (within the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming).[24]

Uses

Culinary arts

Chives are grown for their scapes and leaves, which are used for culinary purposes as a flavoring herb, and provide a somewhat milder onion-like flavor than those of other Allium species.

Chives have a wide variety of culinary uses, such as in traditional dishes in France, Sweden, and elsewhere.[25] In his 1806 book Attempt at a Flora (Försök til en flora), Retzius describes how chives are used with pancakes, soups, fish, and sandwiches.[25] They are also an ingredient of the gräddfil sauce with the traditional herring dish served at Swedish midsummer celebrations. The flowers may also be used to garnish dishes.[26] In Poland and Germany, chives are served with quark. Chives are one of the fines herbes of French cuisine, the others being tarragon, chervil and parsley. Chives can be found fresh at most markets year-round, making them readily available; they can also be dry-frozen without much impairment to the taste, giving home growers the opportunity to store large quantities harvested from their own gardens.[23]

Uses in plant cultivation

Retzius also describes how farmers would plant chives between the rocks making up the borders of their flowerbeds, to keep the plants free from pests (such as Japanese beetles).[25][27] The growing plant repels unwanted insect life, and the juice of the leaves can be used for the same purpose, as well as fighting fungal infections, mildew, and scab.[28][29][30]

Cultivation

Chives are cultivated both for their culinary uses and their ornamental value; the violet flowers are often used in ornamental dry bouquets.[31] The flowers are also edible and are used in salads,[32] or used to make Blossom vinegars.[33]

Chives thrive in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter, with a pH of 6-7 and full sun.[11] They can be grown from seed and mature in summer, or early the following spring. Typically, chives need to be germinated at a temperature of 15 to 20 °C (60-70 °F) and kept moist. They can also be planted under a cloche or germinated indoors in cooler climates, then planted out later. After at least four weeks, the young shoots should be ready to be planted out. They are also easily propagated by division.[34]

In cold regions, chives die back to the underground bulbs in winter, with the new leaves appearing in early spring. Chives starting to look old can be cut back to about 2–5 cm. When harvesting, the needed number of stalks should be cut to the base.[34] During the growing season, the plant continually regrows leaves, allowing for a continuous harvest.[34]

Chives are susceptible to damage by leek moth larvae, which bore into the leaves or bulbs of the plant.[35]

History and cultural importance

Chives have been cultivated in Europe since the Middle Ages (fifth until the 15th centuries), although their usage dates back 5000 years.[23] They were sometimes referred to as "rush leeks".[36]

It was mentioned in 80 A.D. by Marcus Valerius Martialis in his "Epigrams".

He who bears chives on his breathe, Is safe from being kissed to death.[12]

The Romans believed chives could relieve the pain from sunburn or a sore throat. They believed eating chives could increase blood pressure and act as a diuretic.[37]

Romani have used chives in fortune telling.[38] Bunches of dried chives hung around a house were believed to ward off disease and evil.[39][12]

In the 19th century, Dutch farmers fed cattle on the herb to give a different taste to milk.[12]

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References
  1. Maxted, N. & Rhodes, L. (2016). Allium schoenoprasum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T172256A19391728. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T172256A19391728.en Downloaded on 05 January 2019.
  2. "Allium schoenoprasum L. is an accepted name". theplantlist.org. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  3. LaFray, Joyce (1987). Tropic Cooking: The New Cuisine from Florida and the Islands of the Caribbean. Oakland: Ten Speed Press. p. 292. ISBN 0-89815-234-8.
  4. Block, E. (2010). Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 978-0-85404-190-9.
  5. "AllergyNet — Allergy Advisor Find". Allallergy.net. Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
  6. "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". kew.org.
  7. "Allium schoenoprasum in Flora of China @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  8. Tardiff, B.; Morisset, P. (1990). "Clinal morphological variation of Allium schoenoprasum in eastern North America". Taxon. 39 (3): 417–429. doi:10.2307/1223088. JSTOR 1223088.
  9. "Allium schoenoprasum in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  10. Altervista Flora Italiana, Erba cipollina, wild chives, Civette, Schnittlauch, Allium schoenoprasum L. includes photos, drawings, European distribution map, etc.
  11. "Allium schoenoprasum - Plant Finder". mobot.org.
  12. Ernest Small North American Cornucopia: Top 100 Indigenous Food Plants (2014), p. 230, at Google Books
  13. James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey (Editors) The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification, p. 133, at Google Books
  14. Linford, Jenny (2010). A concise guide to herbs. Bath: Parragon. p. 45. ISBN 9781405487993.
  15. Kaufman, Peter B; Thomas J Carlson; Kaufman B Kaufman; Harry L Brielmann; Sara Warber; Leland J Cseke; James A Duke (1999). Natural Products from Plants. Boca Raton: CRC Press. pp. 261. 084933134X.
  16. "Which flowers are the best source of nectar?". Conservation Grade. 2014-10-15. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  17. Allium schoenoprasum factsheet, from Kemper center for home gardening, retrieved on June 13, 2006, based on the position of the botanical Garden (Missouri)
  18. Gräslök, from Den virtuella floran, retrieved on June 13, 2006, The facts mentioned on the site apply to Sweden, which is in the northern part of the habitat zone.
  19. McGary, Mary Jane (2001). Bulbs of North America: North American Rock Garden Society. Portland: Timber Press. pp. 28–29. 088192511X.
  20. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden. 0
  21. "Alliaceae Allium schoenoprasum L." ipni.org. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  22. Anderberg, Anna-Lena. "Den virtuella floran: Allium schoenoprasum L. - Gräslök". nrm.se.
  23. Trowbridge Filippone, Peggy. "Chive Selection and Storage". About.com Food.
  24. "Taxon: Allium schoenoprasum L." ars-grin.gov. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  25. Försök til en Flora Oeconomica Sveciæ by A. J. Retzius (1806)
  26. Allium schoenoprasum, from Mountain valley growers, accessed on June 13, 2006
  27. Andy Hamilton. "pests – selfsufficientish – pests". selfsufficientish.com.
  28. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
  29. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
  30. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
  31. "Flower & Garden Magazine, June-July 1996, The lazy gardener's guide to potpourri". findarticles.com.
  32. Durand, Faith (23 May 2008). "Tip: How to Use Chive Blossoms in Salads and Other Dishes". thekitchn.com. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  33. Margaret Roberts Edible & Medicinal Flowers, p. 146, at Google Books
  34. McGee, Rose Marie Nichols; Stuckey, Maggie (2002). The Bountiful Container. Workman Publishing.
  35. Landry, Jean-François (June 2007). "Taxonomic review of the leek moth genus Acrolepiopsis (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae) in North America". The Canadian Entomologist. 139 (3): 319–353. doi:10.4039/n06-098. ISSN 1918-3240.
  36. Nicholas Culpeper Culpeper's Complete Herbal, and English Physician (1826), p. 37, at Google Books
  37. Staub, Jack E. (2008). 75 Exceptional Herbs for Your Garden. Gibbs Smith. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-4236-0251-4.
  38. Chives, from "Sally's place", accessed on June 13, 2006
  39. "Chives". sallys-place.com.
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