Onion

The onions mentioned in Numbers 11:5 are certainly Allium cepa, the Egyptian onion. This onion has a compact bulb covered with a coat and formed of layers. These layers consist of broad, fleshy bases of leaves that closely overlap each other. The leaves are slender and hollow. The entire plant has a strong, distinctive taste and smell.

Closely related to the onion is garlic and leek.

See Food and Food Preparation; Garlic; Leek.