Allium scilloides |
Allium robinsonii |
|
---|---|---|
fragile onion, scilla-like onion |
Robinson's onion |
|
Bulbs | 1–5, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, increase bulbs ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, rhizomes absent, globose to ovoid, 1–2 cm × 8–20 mm; outer coats enclosing renewal bulbs, reddish or brownish, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers; inner coats white or light brown, cells absent or obscure and ± quadrate. |
1–3+, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, rhizomes absent, renewal bulbs formed within coats of parent bulb, increase bulbs absent or 1–2, ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, ovoid, 1–2 cm × 8–15 mm; outer coats grayish to brownish, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers; inner coats white, cells absent or ± quadrate. |
Leaves | deciduous with scape after seeds mature, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, flat, falcate, 6–15 cm × 2–4 mm, margins entire or obscurely papillose. |
usually deciduous with scape, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, flat, strongly falcate, 5–18 cm × 1–2 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, strongly flattened, 2-edged or winged distally, wings obscurely papillose, 4–8 cm × 1–3 mm. |
usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, erect, solid, flattened, slightly 2-edged, 3–7 cm × 1–3 mm. |
Umbel | decisuous with scape, erect, compact, 5–12-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 3-veined, broadly ovate, ± equal, apex acute. |
deciduous with scape, erect, compact, 5–12-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, 5–8-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex abruptly acute. |
Flowers | campanulate, 6–8 mm; tepals erect, white or pinkish with green midribs, becoming reddish purple, broadly elliptic-oblong, ± equal, becoming rigid, papery and ± connivent over fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse, not involute at tip; stamens included; anthers purple; pollen white to gray; ovary crestless or obscurely crested; processes 3, central, rounded, margins entire; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed or minutely 3-lobed; pedicel 2–10.5(–18.5 in fruit) mm. |
campanulate, 7–9 mm; tepals erect, white to pale pink with red midribs, oblong, ± equal, becoming papery and not carinate in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse; stamens included; anthers purple; pollen gray or yellow; ovary ± distinctly crested; processes 3 or 6, central, low, rounded, margins entire; style included, linear; stigma capitate, unlobed; pedicel 3–12 mm. |
Seed | coat dull; cells smooth. |
coat dull; cells smooth. |
2n | = 14. |
= 14. |
Allium scilloides |
Allium robinsonii |
|
Phenology | Flowering Mar–Apr. | Flowering Apr–May. |
Habitat | Barren, gravelly soils, arid interior slopes and ridges well back from Columbia River | Sand and gravel deposits along bottom and lower benches of Columbia River |
Elevation | 300–1300 m (1000–4300 ft) | 50–200 m (200–700 ft) |
Distribution |
WA
|
OR; WA
|
Discussion | Of conservation concern. Allium scilloides is known only from east of the Cascades. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Allium robinsonii has been found along the Columbia River from Ferry County, northeastern Washington, to about the mouth of the John Day River, north-central Oregon, and is now possibly extirpated from Oregon. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 26, p. 275. | FNA vol. 26, p. 276. |
Parent taxa | ||
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | Douglas ex S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14: 229. (1879) | L. F. Henderson: Rhodora 32: 22. (1930) |
Web links |