Talk:Scallion

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Contents 1 E. Coli outbreak 2 Green onions 3 Pictures 4 Gibbons 5 Cibies 6 The first sentence 7 Rewording. 8 Escallion

[edit] E. Coli outbreak

I'm removing the tidbit about the e. coli outbreak. I'm sure it's important and all, but really, it's a one time event that most people will forget about. And further, why on the scallion page? 71.109.177.203 02:15, 10 January 2007 (UTC)

• I've seen several instances where outbreaks of hepatitis A were linked to scallions. I believe it's the handling of the scallions that are the problem, not something about the scallions themselves. Still it might be good to have a section on scallions and food-bourne illnesses to try to clear up any misinformation. --208.204.155.241 20:52, 11 January 2007 (UTC)

I think it'd be okay to have a small list of diseases that scallions might carry or something like that, just not a full blown passage about the Taco bell incident that takes up 50% of the article. 128.97.149.30 16:53, 12 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Green onions

Green onion, spring onion, and bunching onion, in the U.S., refer to immature onions. Occaisonally, although incorrectly, scallion is used to refer the same thing especially when referring to the sliced greens of said young onion. Not the other way around, as the article states. Any input from outside the U.S.? VermillionBird 21:49, 2005 Mar 15 (UTC)

I'm British, and I'd always call the things in this article's photo "spring onions". I don't think I've ever used the word "scallion" except when talking to Americans. 81.158.205.223 12:02, 17 May 2005 (UTC)

Further to the above... a Google search for "spring onions" site:uk produces 23,200 hits; however, a search for "scallions" site:uk gives only 672 hits. Loganberry 12:05, 17 May 2005 (UTC)

From the american perspective, I would say "green onion" is the most commonly used term, more so than scallion. But as for "incorrectly", the OED gives the first definition of scallion as "A spring onion, any of several varieties of onion or related plants which are used like the spring onion, as the Welsh onion, Allium fistulosum, and the shallot, Allium cepa var. aggregatum. Also any long-necked onion with an undeveloped bulb. Now chiefly dial. & N. Amer.", which sounds very like the article. Perhaps the article would be better as either "green onion" or "spring onion" by the "most common name" rule, but I don't see how this usage of the word scallion is incorrect. -- WormRunner | Talk 03:07, 18 May 2005 (UTC)

I'm an American, and I've always called a "Scallion" a "Scallion" Geverend 13:50, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

I'm a Californian, and I've always called them Spring Onions (and never Scallions). I agree with Saluton, it sounds like a kind of fish. njaard 00:53, 10 July 2006 (UTC)

In Britain, nobody ever calls them "scallion", always "spring onions". I've never heard the word before...it sounds like a kind of fish. I suggest "spring onion" would be a better name for the article as nobody in the commonwealth will understand what scallion is. But even those Americans who use "scallion" would probably understand "spring onion", or at least have a vague idea of what it is. Saluton 02:16, 14 June 2006 (UTC)

The terms "green onion", "scallion" and "spring onion" are all used in the U.S. I'm a cook (but by no means an authority on onion naming), and I've always called them "green onions", but another cook I work with says "spring onion", and my boss says "scallion". Green onion seems the most common name where I live (Michigan, USA), but it may be a regional preference. They are sold under any of the three names (in the U.S.), and are in dictionaries as synonyms, though I've heard/read that "scallion" also refers to a specific variety of onion named "scallion". I think that it would be better to have the page called "Green onions" or "spring onions", and say that they are often called scallions in the U.S. The page may be a little too U.S.-centered if the term "scallion" isn't common in other countries (But is it?). Just some input, I'm not too partial, really. --ScarletSpiderDave 01:46, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

Begging you pardon, but I have spent all of my childhood in Northern Ireland and have never, ever, heard anyone refer to scallions as spring onions. I will remove this gross affront to those who reside in the North. Viva la scallion! Tx

Green Onion is an inaccurate term that has been popularized by restaurants such as Taco Bell and as of late, the media due to the E-Coli outbreak from said resturant. Being a farmer, they were/are referred to as scallions in the US. As I grew up, using the scallion and onion greens were normally both referred to as onion greens. I believe green onions was derived from that phrase. The only problem I would see with using the term scallion is that some may confuse the greens of onions with scallions as they are in fact very similar and only differ slightly in taste and texture. I think the inaccurate, but more commonly used, term of green onions is unfortunatly here to stay.Eldorin 04:48, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

The term scallion is popular in Northern Ireland, where it is used almost exclusively in preference to spring onion. "Spring onion" is only usually mentioned in reference to crisps (potato chips). Scallions are part of the recipe for a dish popular in Northern Ireland called champ. --Mal 01:10, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

I've never heard the word "scallion" be spoken for this item, though I'm sure it's correct. Where I'm from (Wisconsin, USA), these have always been called "green onions". It's not incorrect to use "green onion" since that is, in fact, the term for this particular vegetable in these parts. Falsified 22:56, 8 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Pictures

It feels to me like there are too many pictures right at the front. It feels too busy. I suggest that the middle picture (chopped scallions) be removed. Absent any objections, I'll do it tomorrow. Carl.bunderson 02:21, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Gibbons

Living in Wales, I must say I've never heard them called 'gibbons' before... The Pacifist 21:05, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

It's from the Welsh term, shibwns (which is what I call spring onions, even when speaking English). I think that 'gibbons' is pronounced 'jibbons'. Gareth 14:43, 2 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Cibies

Simmilar in scotland...never heard this term before...always called them spring onions...

[edit] The first sentence

I don't really believe a link to a character in a manga series is needed here. It seems irrelevant.

Agreed, I'll take care of it. Carl.bunderson 09:13, 7 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Rewording.

I've made a couple of changes to this article as per what appears to be the broad consensus on this talk page. The term 'Spring Onions' is in common usage in all parts of Great Britain (The island comprising England, Scotland and Wales). When I say Great Britain, I do no mean the United Kingdom. I've lived in Scotland my whole life - partly in the highlands, and partly in the lowlands, but i've never heard anyone refer to these vegetables as 'cibies'. Equally, it seems that the term 'gibbons' is not exactly universal in Wales. I've edited the article to reflect this.

I would suggest that if the words 'cibies' and 'gibbons' aren't in common usage in any regional dialect in Scotland or Wales, then the references to them should be removed altogether.

Your thoughts? --Boabbriggs 17:18, 4 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Escallion

There is a variant in Jamaica called Escallion that is generally familiar to Jamaicans and that I last used to flavour the breakfast I prepared this morning. I don't know the symbolism for pronunciation, but I and everyone else I've heard refer to it pronounce it skellion (rhyming a bit with "skeleton").

The Wikipedia article on escallion emphasizes that it is different from leeks, spring onions, and shallots, but does not state a species or a variation. I am sure that someone from the Faculty of Natural Sciences or the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of the West Indies would know the classification of escallion.

Since escallion is obviously one of the forms of scallion, I suggest that the article on escallion be merged into this one.

I apologise for announcing the suggestion on the page before making it.

Respectfully, SamBlob 03:47, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

A Google search has revealed a document that states the botanical classification for escallion. Page 12 of this document: http://www.frp.uk.com/dissemination_documents/R6290_-_FTR.pdf refers to escallion as Allium ascalonicum L.. While I do not know what the "L." means, I will try to contact the authors of the paper. Respectfully, SamBlob 04:58, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

I did a bit of poking around on Wikispecies and it looks like 'L.' refers to Carolus Linnaeus, a botanist. When citing a botanical name that Linnaeus was first to use, it is customary to put 'L.' afterwards. See Author_citation_(botany). I'm in favour of merging escallion with this article, and will do so if I get a chance over the next few days. Feel free to do so yourself too! Boabbriggs 00:39, 2 November 2006 (UTC)