What Part of the Plant Does Garlic Come From?

Anatomy

• There are two basic varieties of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Hardneck garlic has a scape -- a stalk that grows directly from the bulb -- while softneck garlic does not. Both varieties have long leaves and a bulb. Most of garlic's medicinal and culinary value lies in the bulb, which can contain as many as 40 cloves.

Uses

• The cloves contained in garlic bulbs can be dried, cooked, powdered or eaten raw. In addition to adding flavor to food, garlic may help lower cholesterol, decrease blood pressure and protect the body from colon and stomach cancer because of a compound called allicin.

Considerations

• While garlic is generally safe, it can cause digestive problems such as heartburn. Eating it may also lead to bad body and breath odors. For some people, garlic causes an allergic reaction. It may also interfere with blood's ability to clot, making garlic supplements a poor choice for anyone who is having surgery or who has a blood disorder.