A genus of plants in the lily family that includes onions, garlic, leeks, and chives, known for their pungent smell and taste.
From Latin 'allium,' the Roman name for garlic. The term has been used since ancient times and may derive from a Celtic root meaning hot or burning, referring to the sharp taste.
Alliums are biochemical warfare plants—they produce sulfur compounds as a defense against insects, and those same compounds make our eyes water when we chop them and give them their characteristic pungent kick!
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