Physical characteristics
Tulbaghia violacea is a fast-growing, bulbous plant that reaches a height of 0.5 m. The leaves are long, narrow, strap-like, slightly fleshy and smell strongly of garlic when bruised. They grow from fat, tuberous roots which spread to form clumps of plants. The pinkish mauve, tubular flowers, clustered into umbels of up to twenty flowers, are held above the leaves on a tall flower stalk, and appear over a long period in summer (January to April). They too smell of garlic when picked. The fruit, triangular capsules, are grouped into a head, and when ripe they split to release the flattened, hard black seeds.
Tulbaghia is named after Ryk Tulbagh (died 1771), governor of the Cape of Good Hope and violacea means violet-coloured. Only two species are grown as ornamentals and enjoy popularity in cultivation.
Most of the species of Tulbaghia are adapted for moth pollination and have dull flowers that become sweetly scented at night. T. violacea seems likely to be pollinated by butterflies and bees as they are scented during the day. Society garlic is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial with narrow, grayish green leaves and large clusters of lavender or lilac flowers. The plant looks like an especially showy garlic or garlic chives plant. Society garlic has just 4-9 grass-like leaves, each about a foot long and a half-inch wide. The leaves grow straight up out of a swollen underground rhizome that looks like a corm or bulb. A single 2 ft (0.6 m) scape (flowering stalk) grows up from the center of the rosette of leaves. Atop the scape sits a large umbel (flower cluster in which all the pedicels (flower stems) originate from the same point) of sweet-scented lilac-pink flowers. The flowers are tubular, expanding to six pointed stars at their ends. They are a little less than an inch long and wide, and there are 8-20 of the dainty little flowers in each umbel. The blossoms are produced sporadically from early summer until late autumn. The leaves and rhizomes of society garlic smell like garlic, but the flowers are sweet, smelling like hyacinths, and some people say they are too sweet! The cultivar, 'Silver Lace' (a.k.a. 'Variegata') has larger flowers and leaves with cream stripes. 'Tricolor' has pink and white variegations. Society garlic is native to Natal, Transvaal and the astern Cape region in South Africa where it grows in rocky grasslands.
Society garlic is easy to grow in light, sandy soils. Light: Society garlic does best in full sun. Plants will grow well in shade, but may not flower much. Indoor plants should be kept in the brightest light possible.
Moisture: Water society garlic frequently during the growing season, less frequently during flowering, and reduce watering during the winter resting period to just enough to keep the rootball from completely drying out. At any stage, established plants can survive extended droughts if they have to.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 7 - 10. Society garlic tolerates moderate frosts and light freezes down to about 20º F (-6.7º C). Propagate society garlic by dividing off pieces of rhizome while the plant is dormant.
The name, "society garlic" comes from the assumption that, although it tastes like garlic, you don't get bad breath from eating it. There are a couple dozen species of Tulbaghia in South Africa. Some authorities split the huge Amaryllidaceae family into several smaller families, and include Tulbaghia, along with the onions and garlics (genus Allium), in the family Alliaceae.
Composition
The invention provides extracts and preparations based on the species Tulbaghia violacea (Harv.) (wild garlic), which elicits a significant antimicrobial, preferably antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo, even under field and glasshouse conditions. Moreover, these extracts deriving from the soil parts as well as of the aerial parts of the plant elicit a significant bio-stimulatory activity, expressed, above all, by an increased growth metabolism supporting seed growth. Furthermore, combined extracts or preparations from Tulbaghia violacea and species of the genus Agapanthus show a higher antifungal and bio-stimulatory efficacy as compared to the extracts or preparations of the single species, indicating that synergism is participated in the involved biological processes.
Medicinal uses
Clinical studies with above extract are presently being done by various institutions in the combination of 12 herbal extracts making use of sodium chlorite Ion as a preservative and resulting in a medication known as FAITH™ Drops, Immune Fortifier and Starlight drops. This medication is used with an activator resulting in chlorine dioxide being formulated in the body known as SCD breaking down to hydro-chloric acid which is then absorbed and utilized by the immune system of the body subsequently the drops and herbal extracts known as FAITH™ Drops have been accepted and coded by the MCC of South Africa.
Other uses
The crushed leaves may be used to help cure sinus headaches and to discourage moles from the garden (by their strong smell). The smell repels fleas, ticks and mosquitoes when crushed on the skin. The fresh bulbs are boiled in water and the decoctions are taken orally to clear up coughs and colds. The bulb has been used as a remedy for pulmonary tuberculosis and to destroy intestinal worms. Wild garlic may prove to have the same or similar antibacterial and anti-fungal activities as has been scientifically verified for real garlic. The leaves are used to treat cancer of the oesophagus. The Zulus use the leaves and flowers as spinach and as a hot, peppery seasoning with meat and potatoes. They also use the bulb to make an aphrodisiac medicine. Wild garlic is a very good snake repellent and for this reason the Zulus plant it around their homes.
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