Allium amplectens |
Allium bisceptrum |
|
---|---|---|
narrow-leaf onion, slim-leaf onion |
twincrest onion |
|
Bulbs | 1–15+, increase bulbs absent or ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to ± globose, 0.6–1.5 × 0.6–1.3 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, prominently cellular-reticulate, membranous, cells in ± vertical rows, forming irregular herringbone pattern, transversely elongate, V-shaped, without fibers; inner coats usually dark red, sometimes white to pink, cells obscure, quadrate. |
1–7+, commonly producing either cluster of stalked, basal bulbels or filiform rhizomes to 1 dm, terminated by bulbels, rhizomes generally lost when specimens are collected, ovoid, 1–2 × 0.6–1.8 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, light brown to gray, membranous, obscurely cellular-reticulate, cells rectangular, walls minutely sinuous, vertical, varying to irregular, all sinuous, without fibers; inner coats white to pink, cells obscure, quadrate. |
Leaves | persistent, withering from tip at anthesis, 2–4, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, subterete or ± channeled, 10–36 cm × 0.5–2 mm, margins entire. |
persistent, green at anthesis, 2–5, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, flat, broadly channeled, 8–30 cm × 1–13 mm, margins entire. |
Scape | persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 15–50 cm × 3–5 mm. |
persistent, solitary or clustered 1–3, erect, solid, terete, 10–30(–40) cm × 1–5 mm. |
Umbel | shattering after seeds mature, each flower deciduous with its pedicel as a unit, erect, compact, 10–50-flowered, hemispheric, bulbels unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 6–13-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex short-acuminate. |
persistent, erect, loose, 15–40-flowered, globose, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3–4-veined, ovate to lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate. |
Flowers | stellate, 5–9 mm; tepals spreading at anthesis, white to pink, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery and connivent over capsule, margins entire, apex acute; stamens included; anthers yellow or purple; pollen yellow; ovary crested; processes 6, lateral, ± prominent, ± rectangular, margins entire; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 4–16 mm. |
stellate, 7–10 mm; tepals spreading, lilac to white, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, not carinate, margins entire, apex acuminate, not involute; stamens included; anthers purple; pollen yellow; ovary conspicuously crested; processes 6, central, distinct, flattened, triangular, margins papillose-denticulate; style included, linear, ± equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed; pedicel 10–20 mm, often becoming flexuous and deflexed in fruit. |
Seed | coat dull; cells minutely roughened. |
coat shining; cells each with minute, central papilla. |
2n | = 14, 21, 28. |
= 14, 28. |
Allium amplectens |
Allium bisceptrum |
|
Phenology | Flowering Apr–Jul. | Flowering May–Jul. |
Habitat | Clay soils, including serpentine, dry slopes, and open plains | Meadows and aspen groves, less commonly on open slopes in mountains |
Elevation | 0–1800 m (0–5900 ft) | 1100–3000 m (3600–9800 ft) |
Distribution |
CA; OR; WA; BC
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AZ; CA; ID; NM; NV; OR; UT
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Discussion | All three chromosome races of Allium amplectens are widespread. The triploids are achiasmatic, causing a breakdown in the first meiotic division. This is followed by a normal second division resulting in pollen dyads that are, presumably, nonfunctional; seeds are produced by apomixis. The diploids and tetraploids produce normal pollen, in tetrads, that appears to be functional. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Two varieties of Allium bisceptrum have been recognized. Where their ranges overlap (central Utah and central Nevada), the putative varieties cannot be distinguished confidently except by chromosome number. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 26, p. 262. | FNA vol. 26, p. 256. |
Parent taxa | Liliaceae > Allium | Liliaceae > Allium |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | A. acuminatum var. gracile, A. attenuifolium, A. attenuifolium var. monospermum, A. monospermum, A. occidentale, A. serratum | A. bisceptrum var. palmeri, A. bisceptrum var. utahense, A. palmeri |
Name authority | Torrey: Pacif. Railr. Rep. 4(5): 148. (1857) | S. Watson: Botany (Fortieth Parallel), 351, plate 37, figs. 1–3. (1871) |
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