Allium amplectens |
Allium robinsonii |
|
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narrow-leaf onion, slim-leaf onion |
Robinson's onion |
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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. |
1–3+, 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 | 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. |
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 | persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 15–50 cm × 3–5 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 | 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. |
deciduous with scape, erect, compact, 5–12-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, 5–8-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex abruptly acute. |
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. |
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 minutely roughened. |
coat dull; cells smooth. |
2n | = 14, 21, 28. |
= 14. |
Allium amplectens |
Allium robinsonii |
|
Phenology | Flowering Apr–Jul. | Flowering Apr–May. |
Habitat | Clay soils, including serpentine, dry slopes, and open plains | Sand and gravel deposits along bottom and lower benches of Columbia River |
Elevation | 0–1800 m (0–5900 ft) | 50–200 m (200–700 ft) |
Distribution |
CA; OR; WA; BC
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OR; WA
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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.) |
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. 262. | FNA vol. 26, p. 276. |
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 | |
Name authority | Torrey: Pacif. Railr. Rep. 4(5): 148. (1857) | L. F. Henderson: Rhodora 32: 22. (1930) |
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