Allium scilloides, called the fragile onion, is a plant species endemic to the US State of Washington. It has been reported from only 4 counties, all on the eastern side of the Cascade Range: Klickitat, Kittitas, Yakima and Grant. It grows on barren, gravelly or rocky slopes at elevations of 300–1300 m.[3][4] The species is sometimes cultivated in other regions as an ornamental.[5]

Fragile onion

Imperiled  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Allioideae
Genus: Allium
Species:
A. scilloides
Binomial name
Allium scilloides
Douglas ex S. Wats.
Synonyms[2]

Allium fragile A.Nelson

Allium scilloides growing on dry basalt flats, Douglas County Washington

Description

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Allium scilloides produces bulbs along an underground rhizome, each bulb round to egg-shaped, up to 2 cm across. There are usually two thick flattened leaves that curl near the ends and are often nearly prostrate on the ground. Flowers are bell-shaped, about 7 mm across; tepals white, pink or purplish with green midribs; anthers purple; pollen white to gray. Flower buds are often dark red to dark pink before opening.[3][6][7][8][9]

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References

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  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer - Allium scilloides". NatureServe Explorer Allium scilloides. NatureServe. 2022-06-22. Retrieved 22 Jun 2022.
  2. ^ The Plant List
  3. ^ a b Flora of North America v 26 p 275, Allium scilloides
  4. ^ BONAP (Biota of North America Project) floristic synthesis, Allium scilloides
  5. ^ "Gardening Europe, Allium scilloides". Archived from the original on 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  6. ^ Watson, Sereno. 1879. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 14: 229.
  7. ^ Hitchcock, C. H., A.J. Cronquist, F. M. Ownbey & J. W. Thompson. 1969. Vascular Cryptogams, Gymnosperms, and Monocotyledons. 1: 1–914. In C. L. Hitchcock Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle.
  8. ^ Nelson, Aven. 1926. University of Wyoming Publications in Science. Botany 1(5): 123–124, f. 7.
  9. ^ Onions of the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington, Paul Slichter