Bulbs of garlic. Woodcut artwork of bulbs from the garlic plant (Allium sativum). Garlic is a perennial herb of the onion family, used in cookery for its pungent flavour and aroma. Each bulb is composed of a number of bulblets or cloves. The bulb at right has been opened to show the cloves (one at lower centre), while the bulb at left still has its root system (lower left).