The stems of some plants are modified to serve for storage. The most common modification is in the form of a bulb. It is condensed as a terminal bulb and axial fleshy leaves.
Such modified stems of plants are widely used and eaten daily. The two common forms of bulbs are onions and scallions.
Key Takeaways
- Onions have a stronger taste, while scallions are milder and slightly sweet.
- Onions develop large bulbs, whereas scallions have small, underdeveloped bulbs.
- Onions are often used for cooking, while scallions can be eaten raw and cooked.
Onion vs Scallion
An onion is a vegetable with a large bulb cultivated from the Allium genus. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals that help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart diseases. It has a strong smell and taste due to sulfur. Scallion is an under-developed bulb that is rich in calcium, potassium and anti-oxidants. It has a mild scent and taste.
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Onions have a longer growth period. The scientific name of onion is Allium cepa. It produces an irritant called syn-Propanethial-S-oxide and stimulates the lachrymal glands.
It converts the sulfoxides amino acid to sulfenic acid and causes tears while chopping onions. Onion has several health benefits like lowering the risk of cancer, heart diseases, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease.
It is a good source of vitamins and minerals. On the other hand, scallions have a shorter growth period. The scientific name of the scallion is Allium fistulosum.
It does not produce any chemical irritant during chopping. It is rich in fiber, antioxidants, and several vitamins and minerals. It is an excellent source of energy and metabolism production.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Onion | Scallion |
|---|---|---|
| Bulb size | Large and fully developed bulb | Small and under-developed bulb |
| Health benefits | It contains anti-inflammatory substances that reduces cholesterol and triglycerides and is rich in antioxidants and sulfur | It is a good source of Vitamin C, and other B-complex vitamins like B1, B2, and B3 vitamin commonly called thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin respectively, and contains several minerals like calcium, potassium |
| pH | Around 5.5 | 6.0 – 7. 0 |
| Growth conditions | Grows well in loamy, alluvial soil and can withstand temperature variations except extreme hot, cold or rainfall | Organic and moist soil and grows well in full sun to a partially shaded area |
| Growth period | Longer than scallions | Shorter than onions (60 – 120 days) |
What is Onion?
Onion is a vegetable species of the genus Allium. It is also called a common onion or bulb onion. The scientific name of onion is Allium cepa. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus.
Onion is from the kingdom of Plantae, order of asparagates, a family of Amaryllidaceae, subfamily of allioideae, and genus of allum.
Onion is a biennial or perennial plant and is cultivated annually. It has been grown for over 7000 years. The harvesting time of onion is the first season of its growth. After harvesting, the crop is dried and stored.
The plant consists of a bulb at the base, fibrous roots that extend into the soil, and leaves on the top. The bulb is condensed and compressed stems surrounded by modified scales that are fleshy.
The ph of the onion is 5.5. The first cultivation of onion is considered to be done in Central Asia. And there has been evidence that onions were used back in the Bronze Age settlements.
The first person to write about the usage of onion and cabbage is Pliny the Elder, in his work called Pompeii. The crop is susceptible to pests and worms like onion eelworm, onion fly, and another fungus.
Some types of onions also produce multiple bulbs. Such types are potato onions and shallots. Onions can be eaten raw in salads, chutneys, and pickles or be cooked along with other savory dishes.
What is Scallion?
Scallions are perennial vegetables of the genus Allium. Scallion and shallot are related and the words are derived from Ancient Greek.
The scallion crop does not have a fully developed bulb and has thick, tubular, and hollow leaves growing over the soil. The germination period of the scallion is one to two weeks.
The leaves as well as the bulb of scallion can be eaten raw in salads, salsas, soup, seafood dishes, noodles, and other dressings or cooked and used in other savory dishes.
Regions like the Southwest United States eat scallions with salt, cheese, and lime juice. It is also used as a topping of several cuisines.
Scallions require over one inch of water for over a week during cultivation. The ideal soil type for scallion crops is moist, yet not soggy. Scallion is a good source of Vitamin C, and other B-complex vitamins like B1, B2, and B3 vitamin commonly called thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin respectively.
It also contains several minerals like calcium, carotenoids, potassium and is rich in antioxidants. Scallions have several regional names like green onion, spring onion, salad onion, long onion, table onion, onion stick, wild onion, precious onion, yard onion, baby onion, gibbon, and many other such names.
Scallion is adaptable to flash freezing. Oils from scallion are widely used. Scallions are active ingredients in Asian cuisine.
Main Differences Between Onion and Scallion
- Onions have a stronger taste and smell while scallions have a milder taste.
- Onions have a fully developed bulb while scallions lack a fully developed bulb.
- The scientific name of onion is Allium cepa while the scientific name of the scallion is Allium fistulosum.
- The germination period of onions is six to twelve days while the germination period of the scallion is one to two weeks.
- Onions require the loamy, alluvial, friable, and deep type of soil while scallion require moist organic soil that drains well for cultivation.
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf980344x
- https://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO201207364424215.page
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
