The following blog was written by Iain Ratter a digitiser in the Herbarium.
Since 2021 we have increased our digitisation capacity with the goal of getting to 1 million specimens imaged by Autumn 2024. Each digitiser is assigned a family of plants to work through. This series of blogs will spotlight the families that have been completed by a member of the team.
The Amaryllidaceae are a cosmopolitan family found in pantropical and subtropical zones. They are herbaceous and mostly grow from bulbs. The name comes from the Amaryllis genus to which the widely cultivated belladonna-lily belongs, but other well-known genera include snowdrops (Galanthus), daffodils (Narcissus) and garlics (Allium). They are often cultivated for their beauty and the Victorians associated them with pride, hope and unrequited love.
The genus Allium and its allies are currently classified in the herbarium as Alliaceae, but this has been reduced to the subfamily Allioideae. Allium is the most diverse and important genus in the family containing many of the longest cultivated and well-studied vegetables. A few common examples are the afore mentioned garlic (Allium sativum), chives (Allium schoenoprasum), onions (Allium cepa) and leeks (Allium ampeloprasum). Allium species also produce thiosulfinates which have effective antifungal and antibacterial properties and thus have medicinal uses.
Our collections at Edinburgh
Amaryllidaceae
Prior to the complete digitsation of the Amaryllidaceae we had a record for 767 specimens. After the complete digitisation of the family we now have records for 2,286 specimens of Amaryllidaceae (excluding specimens from Britain & Ireland). We currently hold 17 type specimens for taxa in the Amaryllidaceae.
Specimens of Amaryllidaceae can be searched on our online catalogue here.
Alliaceae
Prior to the complete digitsation of the Alliaceae had a record for 3,531 specimens. After the complete digitisation of the family we now have records for 5,332 specimens of Alliaceae (excluding specimens from Britain & Ireland). We currently hold 143 type specimens for taxa in the Alliaceae.
Specimens of Alliaceae can be searched on our online catalogue here.
Top 5 regions
Amaryllidaceae
| No. of Specimens | Herbarium Filing Region |
| 609 | Europe excl. Britain and Ireland |
| 332 | Cultivated |
| 298 | St Helena & Ascension |
| 194 | West Asia and Egypt |
| 92 | Temperate South America |
Alliaceae
| No. of Specimens | Herbarium Filing Region |
| 1364 | West Asia and Egypt |
| 1296 | Europe excl. Britain and Ireland |
| 608 | Inner China, Korea and Taiwan |
| 456 | North America |
| 355 | Northern Asia |
Top 5 Genera
Amaryllidaceae
| No. of Specimens | Genus |
| 746 | Narcissus |
| 255 | Galanthus |
| 176 | Leucojum |
| 165 | Crinum |
| 128 | Zephyranthes |
Alliaceae
| No. of Specimens | Genus |
| 5399 | Allium |
| 100 | Triteleia |
| 77 | Nothoscordum |
| 71 | Tulbaghia |
| 34 | Leucocoryne |
