Amaryllidaceae is a family of flowering plants that often has a bulb, corms, rhizomes, or tubers. Think Onion. There are about 71 genera in the family. More popular genera include Allium, Agapanthus, Amaryllis, Narcissus (Daffodil), Galanthus (Snowdrop).

Their flowers are often valued for their striking size and colours and appearance. Who can resist ‘a crowd, a host, of golden daffodil’, as William Wordsworth once wrote. The flowers are often trumpet or funnel shaped, some have different coloured outer petals to the inner trumpet. 

Leaves are long, narrow often coming up directly from the base. While most will die back to the bulb once they have flowered, storing the nutrients ready to come back next year.

Many Alliums are edible, such as the common onion, garlic, scallion, leek and chives. However, some members of this family contain toxins that are harmful to both humans and especially animals, so best to stick to the ones you know are safe to eat.