Allium serra |
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jeweled onion, pom-pon onion, serrated onion |
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Bulbs | 1–3, increase bulbs absent and ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to ± globose, 0.8–1.2 × 0.8–1.2 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, prominently cellular-reticulate, membranous, cells arranged in ± vertical rows, forming distinct herringbone pattern, transversely elongate, V-shaped, without fibers; inner coats white, cells obscure, arranged in vertical rows, forming distinct herringbone pattern or ± quadrate, V-shaped. |
Leaves | persistent, withering from tips at anthesis, 2–3, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, subterete, channeled, 13–35 cm × 1–4 mm, margins entire. |
Scape | persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 1.5–4 cm × 2–3 mm. |
Umbel | shattering after seeds mature, each flower deciduous with its pedicel as a unit, erect, compact, 10–40-flowered, hemispheric to globose, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 5–6-veined, lance-ovate to ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. |
Flowers | urceolate to campanulate, 8–11 mm; tepals erect, pink, lanceolate to lance-ovate, unequal, inner shorter and narrower than outer, becoming papery and connivent over capsule, margins entire, apex acute; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crested; processes 3, central, 2-lobed, minute, margins entire; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, 3-lobed; pedicel 7–15 mm. |
Seed | coat dull; cells minutely roughened. |
2n | = 14. |
Allium serra |
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Phenology | Flowering Apr–May. |
Habitat | Heavy, clay soils, including serpentine |
Elevation | 30–1200 m (100–3900 ft) |
Distribution |
CA
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Discussion | Allium serra is known only from the central and north Coast Ranges. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 26, p. 263. |
Parent taxa | |
Sibling taxa | |
Name authority | McNeal & Ownbey: Madroño 24: 25, fig. 1. (1977) |
Web links |