Allium macrostemon Identity & Plant Part
The botanical entity is Allium macrostemon Bunge, family Amaryllidaceae, the onion family. The part used in this Allium macrostemon extract is the bulb; leaves, flower stalks and seeds are not part of the product. In Chinese trade the bulb is xie bai, also called long-stamen onion or Chinese chive bulb.
The pharmacopoeial source of xie bai also includes Allium chinense, the rakkyo, so the same trade name covers two species. The extract is also not garlic, Allium sativum, nor an onion extract, even though sulfur-containing compounds are characteristic across the genus. A buyer comparing offers should match the binomial and the bulb as plant part. Allium macrostemon extract should be read as a bulb ingredient only, because the leaves and flower stalks of the plant differ in composition and in use.












