We were so close to the Iranian border in eastern Turkey that we were intercepted in our innocent botanising by Turkish gendarmes who wanted to know what we were up to. Fortunately they were quite interested in our hobby and even gave us hints as to where to find other alpines.

The majority of records for this plant are from this border region where it occurs in Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Afghanistan. There are also outliers in Sweden and Canada.

In Turkey it grows in the mountains at heights of between 5,400 feet to 11,000 feet. The locals around Van and Ezurum have occasionally used the bulb in cooking- it can be used as a substitute for onions for instance. It can be used to enhance pilau rice as well but this is very much a forager's viewpoint. It is a beautiful plant growing as it does in barren, stony steppe country.

Allium akaka No English name High pass, eastern Turkey near Iran border 25th May 2019 Previous   Next	Allium akaka No English name High pass, eastern Turkey near Iran border 25th May 2019 Previous   Next	Allium akaka No English name High pass, eastern Turkey near Iran border 25th May 2019 Previous   Next
Allium akaka whole plant	Allium akaka bud	Allium akaka flower

High pass, eastern Turkey near Iran border 25th May 2019

Added on June 22nd 2019