Edible Alliums of Uzbekistan

Abstract

Ethnobotanical information about used Allium in Uzbekistan is given

Full text

Proceedings,
First Kazbegi workshop on „Botany, taxonomy and phytochemistry
of wild Allium L. species of the Caucasus and Central Asia“
June 4 - 8, 2007
Kazbegi, Caucasus, Georgia
This workshop was kindly sponsored by
VolkswagenStiftung, Hannover, Germa
ny, as part of the program “Zwischen
Europa und Orient - Mittelasien/Kauka-
sus im Fokus der Wissenschaft”

muv, 1'. U .. LU1U11J L ll W l W U W i U U k l^ U i l
Chapter 10: Edible Alliums of Uzbekistan
Furkat 0. Khassanov
Academy of Sciences, SPP “Botanika”, Tashkent 700143, Akademgorodok, ul. F.
Khodzhaeva, 32, Uzbekistan —— —
Abstract
fAll edible alliums (36 species — more than one third of all Uzbek wild alliums) can be easily
divided into 3 groups:
1. Species related to А. сера and used instead of onion (the bulbs are fried together with meat
or eaten separately with bread or meat, but leaves are never fried).
2. Garlic-like tasting wild species (from subgenus Allium) and used instead of garlic as a
spice.
3. Numerous small wild Allium species with onion-like taste. Their leaves are traditionally
used in food like young leaves of А. сера. These1 alliums are always applied for medicinal
purposes.
Data obtained during these ethnobotanical research activities are very important and actual.
Only several old local people have a good knowledge on use of wild Allium plants, whereas
the young generation of the villagers knows and uses single species only.
Key Words: Uzbekistan, edible wild Allium, traditional dishes, spice, food plants, medicinal
plants
Introduction
Uzbekistan owns a rich flora of vascular plants consisting of about 5.500 species. The genus
Allium L. is presented here by 112 species and 4 subspecies occupying the third position
among the super-polymorphous genera (behind Astragalus L. and Cousinia Cass.).
The use of especially tasteful Allium species has a long tradition in Central Asia with
apparently deep historical roots. People living in desert and mountainous zones are collecting
and using bulbs and leaves in order to prepare special dishes as well as for sale. People in
urban areas are buying the required plant material on the local markets. Traditionally, people
are cultivating in every home gardens not only А. сера L., A. sativum L. (rarely A. porrum L.,
A. ramosum L.) but not rarely wild species (A. suworowii, A. oschaninii, A. pskemense) as
well.
During 2002-2006 several collecting and ethnobotanical research missions have been
undertaken in the mountainous zone of Western Tian-Shan, Western Pamiroalaj, as well as in
the Kyzylkum desert. About 25 male persons have been interviewed for use of wild alliums
for food and medicine. Mostly old wise men and shepherds had a good knowledge about the
use of each wild onion species in the country side. The knowledge of such kind of
information is clearly decreasing, because only few old persons in each village could give any
realistic information. For example, the only person from Sidzhak village, who gave us full
and very original information about use of alliums, died in the next year after our interview.
Our results confirmed the information about use of several species obtained by Umarov and
Khassanov 15 years ago [1].

Khassanov, F. О.: Edible Alliums of Uzbekistan
Results
Depending on geographical position (desert or mountains) people in the countryside are
collecting and using different wild Allium species as food. The most important edible species
in the mountains are:
1. A. motor Kamelin et Levichev (moy-modor)
2. A. costatovaginatum Kamelin et Levichev (tosh-modor)
3. A. severtzovioides R.M. Fritsch (tosh-modor)
4. A. oschaninii O. Fedtsch. (evoj pijoz)
5. A. praemixtum Vved. (evoj pijoz)
6. A. pskemense B. Fedtsch. (tog pijoz)
7. A. sativum L. = A. longicuspis Regel (sarymsak)
8. A. filidens Regel (evoj sarymsak)
9. A. suworowii Regel (anzur pijoz)
10. A. stipitatum Regel (anzur pijoz)
11. A. rosenorum R.M. Fritsch (sijo alaf)
Allium motor, A. severtzovioides, and A. costatovaginatum (from subgenus Melano-
crommyum) are endemic species of West Tian-Shan area used (young leaves only) in the
spring time. The local name of A. motor - moy-modor - means that its leaves are collected in
May, and modor means strength. Usually, leaves a£e used as stuffing for the national pastries
somsa, sambusa, and pelmeny. The orange juice coming from the leafstalk is the main
character to distinguish this species from A. costatovaginatum and A. severtzovioides. The last
ones are also rarely used as food in the same way as A. motor. Local people say that these
alliums are tasteful and very helpful after long cold winter giving strength and rising blood
pressure. Tufts of A. motor can be found in May on every market in Tashkent district. During
the last 10 years one could buy it easily on Tashkent markets as well. The pickled bulbs of A
stipitatum were a favorite "titbit" in 20th century. For decades this species was collected in
large amounts, and "anzur" became really rare. Nowadays this species is no longer
endangered. The same should be true for A. suworowii.
Another group of important edible wild onions belongs to subgenus Сера and represents close
relatives of А. сера (after A. vavilovii Popov et Yved. from Koppeh-Dagh and A. asarense R.
M. Fritsch et Matin from Northern Iran). Allium oschaninii, A. praemixtum and A. pskemense
are also cultivated. Local people are cooking meat for every meal using bulbs of these
alliums. Therefore these species became very rare and have been included in all three editions
of the "Red Data Book of Uzbekistan" [2, 3, 4]. Nevertheless, people still are collecting them
every year. For example, in the mid of 20th century A. praemixtum was sold on the markets in
Khodzhand and Farish, as well as A. vavilovii in Ashgabad.
12. A. aflatunense B. Fedtsch. (anzur pijoz).
13. A. atrosangineum Schrenk (evoj pijoz)
14. A. caesium Schrenk (evoj pijoz)
15. A. renardii Regel. (evoj pijoz)
16. A. tashkenticum F. O. Khass. et R. M. Fritsch (tosh-modor)
17. A. kaufmannii Regel (evoj pijoz)
18. A brevidentiformeVwQd. (Q\o] sarymsak) 0
19. A. griffithianum Boiss. (chulj pijoz)
20. A. turkestanicum Regel (evoj pijoz)
21. A. karataviense Regel (chuchka pijoz)
22. A. crystallinum Vved. (evoj sarymsak)
23. A. drobovii Vved. (evoj pijoz)
24. A. barsczewskii Lipsky (evoj pijoz)
25. A. jodanthum Vved. (evoj pijoz)
132

Khassanov, F. О.: Edible Alliums of Uzbekistan
26. A. longiradiatum Vved. (evoj pijoz)
27. A. sarawschanicum Regel (evoj pijoz)
28. A. komarowii Lipsky (kujrak motor)
29. A. turcomanicum Regel (evoj pijoz)
30. A. giganteum Regel (evoj pijoz
In the desert area not too much Allium species are present, and local people are using all
species instead of garlic and onion.
32. A. sabulosum Stev. (aram zhua). This species is added to the camel milk.
33. A. caspium (Pall.) M. Bieb. (zhua).
34. A. kyzylkumi Kamelin' (kyzyl pijoz)
35. A. borszczowii Regel (chulj pijoz)
36. A. aff. filidens Regel (evoj sarymsak)
37. A rinae F.O. Khass. ined. (evoj sarymsak)
Acknowledgements
Funding by VolkwagenStiftung (Germany) under the general funding theme “Zwischen
Europa und Orient - Mittelasien/Kaukasus im Fokus der Wissenschaft” is gratefully
acknowledged.
References
1. Khassanov, FO, Umarov, TAX1989) Dikorastushchie pishchevye vidy roda Allium L.
Zapadnogo Tyan-Shanya. Uzb Biol Zhumal No. 6: 24-25
2. Levichev IG (1984) In: Sadykov A (Ed) Krasnaya kniga Uzbekskoj SSR. Red Data Book
of UzSSR. Vol. 1, Plants, Tashkent, FAN, pp 74-77
3. Levichev IG.(1998) In: Pratov U (Ed) Uzbekiston Kyzyl Kitoby [Red Data Book of
Uzbekistan]. 2nd edition, vol. 1, Plants, Tashkent, Chinor, pp 124-127
4. Levichev IG (2006) In: Pratov U (Ed) Uzbekiston Kyzyl Kitoby [Red Data Book of
Uzbekistan Republic]. 3rd edition, vol. 1, Plants, Tashkent, Chinor, pp 163-167
133