Allium scilloides explained

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.^{[1] [2]} The species is sometimes cultivated in other regions as an ornamental.^[3]

Description

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.^{[1] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

Notes and References

1. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242101399 Flora of North America v 26 p 275, Allium scilloides
2. http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Allium%20scilloides.png BONAP (Biota of North America Project) floristic synthesis, Allium scilloides
3. Web site: Gardening Europe, Allium scilloides . 2014-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140315041044/http://it.gardening.eu/arc/piante/Piante-perenni/Allium-scilloides-Dougl.-ex-S.-Wats/2335/ . 2014-03-15 . dead .
4. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8714522#page/239/mode/1up Watson, Sereno. 1879. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 14: 229.
5. 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.
6. Nelson, Aven. 1926. University of Wyoming Publications in Science. Botany 1(5): 123–124, f. 7.
7. http://science.halleyhosting.com/nature/gorge/3petal/lily/allium/scilloides.html Onions of the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington, Paul Slichter