Allium punctum |
Allium nigrum |
|
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dotted onion, punctate onion |
black garlic, Homer's garlic |
|
Bulbs | 1–3, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to subglobose, 1–2 × 0.9–1.7 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown to yellow-brown or gray, membranous, ± prominently cellular-reticulate, cells in ± regular vertical rows, narrowly rectangular, transversely elongate, without fibers; inner coats white, cells obscure, narrowly rectangular, transversely elongate, or quadrate. |
3–4, not clustered on stout, primary rhizomes, ovoid, asymmetric, 2.5–3 × 2–5 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, light yellow to light brown, thin, papery, chartaceous, cells narrow, vertically elongate, without fibers; inner coats white, cells narrow, vertically elongate. |
Leaves | usually deciduous with scape, green or withering only at tip at anthesis, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, flat, falcate, 9–18 cm × 2–3 mm, margins entire. |
usually persistent, 3–6, scarcely ensheathing scape even basally, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, flat, broadly channeled, 10–60 cm × 10–25 mm, margins entire. |
Scape | usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, erect, solid, ± flattened, not winged, 3–10 cm × 1–2 mm. |
usually persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, fistulose, 60–100 cm × 5–10 mm. |
Umbel | persistent, erect, ± compact, 6–20-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, 6–9-veined, lanceolate to ovate, ± equal, apex acute to abruptly acuminate. |
persistent, erect, compact, 75–150-flowered, hemispheric-globose, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2–4, 11+-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. |
Flowers | narrowly campanulate, 6–13 mm; tepals erect, white to pinkish with narrow to very broad, purple midvein, oblong-lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery, investing capsule in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse; stamens included; anthers light yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crested; processes 3, central, low, rounded, broad, margins entire; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 5–11 mm. |
stellate to subcampanulate, 6–9 mm; tepals ± spreading, white with green midvein, narrowly oblong, ± equal, becoming ± rigid and reflexed in fruiting, margins entire, apex obtuse; stamens included; anthers yellow or purple, aborting without producing pollen; ovary crestless; style linear, ± equaling tepals; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, obscurely 3-lobed; pedicel 25–40 mm. |
Seed | coat dull; cells smooth. |
coat not known. |
2n | = 14. |
|
Allium punctum |
Allium nigrum |
|
Phenology | Flowering May–Jun. | Flowering Jun. |
Habitat | Sandy, rocky, or clay soils on open slopes and flats | Disturbed roadsides |
Elevation | 1300–1600 m (4300–5200 ft) | 100–200 m (300–700 ft) |
Distribution |
CA; NV; OR
|
OR; native to Mediterranean; cultivated in Europe [Introduced in North America] |
Discussion | Native to the Mediterranean and long-cultivated in Europe, Allium nigrum is reported to be well established near Perrydale, Oregon, and may be expected elsewhere in North America. This species is remarkable in its lack of an onion/garlic odor. It is also unusual in having more than two ovules in each locule, a characteristic of sect. Melanocrommyum Webb & Berthelot but otherwise unusual in the genus. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
|
Source | FNA vol. 26, p. 270. | FNA vol. 26, p. 243. |
Parent taxa | ||
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | L. F. Henderson: Rhodora 32: 23. (1930) | : Sp. Pl. ed. 2, 1: 430. (1762) |
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