Allium madidum |
Allium ampeloprasum |
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mountain swamp onion, swamp onion |
broadleaf wild leek, elephant garlic, wild leek |
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Bulbs | 1–3, larger bulbs each usually with cluster of 10–30 easily detached bulbels to one side of base, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, globose to ovoid, 1–1.6 × 0.8–1.5 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish, membranous, without fibers; inner coats white to pink; inner and outer coats frequently without obvious reticulations, these, when present, contorted. |
1–3+, variable, some with poorly developed bulbs, others ovoid with 1–2 large bulbs and several yellowish to light brown bulbels at base, 0.4–1(–3) × 0.4–1(–1.5) cm; outer coat enclosing 1 or more bulbs, yellowish, membranous; inner coats white to light brown, cells not evident, fibers ± parallel, few. |
Leaves | persistent, green at anthesis, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, flat or channeled, 10–25 cm × 1–4 mm, margins entire. |
withering from tips by anthesis, 6–9, sheathing 1/3–1/2 scape; blade solid, flat, channeled, 1–5 cm × 2–20(–30) mm, margins scabrid. |
Scape | persistent, solitary, erect, solid, ± terete, sometimes ridged, 10–20 cm × 1–2 mm. |
persistent, solitary, erect, fistulose, terete, 45–180 cm × 3–7 mm. |
Umbel | persistent, erect, compact, 10–20-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, 5–7-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. |
persistent, erect, compact, to 500-flowered, few-flowered in variants with bulbils, globose; spathe bracts persistent, 3–5, 2–3-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex abruptly narrowed to beak, beak to 10 cm. |
Flowers | campanulate, 6–10 mm; tepals erect or ± spreading, white with prominent green or pink midveins, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse to acuminate, becoming involute at tip; stamens included; anthers white or yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crestless or obscurely crested; processes 3, low, central, rounded, minute; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed or slightly lobed; pedicel 5–12 mm. |
urceolate, 4–5.5 mm; tepals erect, white, pink, or dark red, unequal, becoming papery and investing capsule in fruit; outer tepal oblong-lanceolate, margins entire, apex obtuse, sometimes mucronate; inner tepal narrowly ovate to spatulate, margins entire, apex obtuse; stamens equaling perianth or exserted; outer filaments simple, inner with 2 prominent lateral teeth that exceed anther-bearing portion, glabrous; anthers yellow or purple; pollen yellow; ovary crestless; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 15–50 mm. |
Seed | coat dull; cells ± smooth. |
coat not known. |
2n | = 28, 42. |
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Allium madidum |
Allium ampeloprasum |
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Phenology | Flowering May–Jul. | Flowering Apr–Jul. |
Habitat | Seasonally wet meadows | Roadsides and other disturbed areas |
Elevation | 1100–2000 m (3600–6600 ft) | 0–100 m (0–300 ft) |
Distribution |
ID; OR
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Europe; Asia; n Africa [Introduced in North America]
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Discussion | Allium madidum is found in the Blue Mountains, Oregon and in Idaho near Payette Lake and New Meadows. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Normally the umbel of Allium ampeloprasum has no bulbils, but there are some variants with a few flowers that produce bulbils. The species has been reported as established in New England and adjacent Canada and can be found along roadsides and in other disturbed areas. It is probably conspecific with A. porrum Linnaeus, the leek of commerce. Allium porrum can be distinguished from A. ampeloprasum based on its unique bulb morphology and chemistry from centuries of cultivation and selection. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 26, p. 255. | FNA vol. 26, p. 238. |
Parent taxa | Liliaceae > Allium | Liliaceae > Allium |
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | S. Watson: Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 14: 228. (1879) | Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 294. (1753) |
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