Six wild species, one domestication programme

Valued for its edible bulb and traditional medicinal use across Central Asia, with a striking purple drumstick flowerhead in early summer. Wild bulbs are increasingly scarce due to over-harvesting.

The tallest wild allium in the programme, prized both for its bulb and as an ornamental. Grows on rocky mountain slopes and faces pressure from food and horticultural collection alike.

Its aromatic seeds are widely used as a spice and in traditional remedies for digestive ailments — among the most heavily wild-harvested species in the region.

A relative of asafoetida whose resin and root are used in traditional medicine. It is slow to mature, which makes wild populations especially vulnerable to over-collection.

A wild rhubarb with edible stalks and a medicinal root, found on scree slopes and mountainous terrain. Sensitive to habitat disturbance and soil erosion.

An aromatic herb native to the mountains of Central Asia, valued for its fragrance and use in local remedies. Its narrow natural range makes it a conservation priority.