The fatty acid compositions of seed oil from ten kinds of Allium tuberosum (Chinese chive, Liliaceae) were determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). The seed oil of Allium tuberosum contained much important fatty acids with linoleic (57.0-71.6%,,) and palmitic (6.6-9.7%), the most abundant unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, respectively. The total unsaturation for the oil was 79.2-93.0%. It is concluded that Allium tuberosum oil is of important nutritional value. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.