Allium rhizomatum |
Allium elmendorfii |
|
---|---|---|
spreading wild onion |
elmendorf's onion |
|
Bulbs | solitary, not basally clustered, replaced annually by new bulbs borne terminally on rhizome; rhizomes 1–3, conspicuous, slender, 2–3 cm, scaly; parent bulbs persisting, often not collected, oblique-ovoid, 1–2.5 × 1 cm; outer coats enclosing parent bulbs, grayish, lacking cellular reticulation, membranous, without fibers; inner coats white or hyaline, cells obscure, ± quadrate. |
1–3, larger bulbs each bearing 3–10 basal bulbels surrounding roots, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, ovoid, 1–1.5 × 0.8–1.5 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, thin, membranous, lacking reticulation, without persistent fibers; inner coats whitish, cells vertically elongate or contorted, walls very sinuous. |
Leaves | persistent, green at anthesis, 2–3, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, flat, not falcate, 20–35 cm × 2–3 mm, margins entire. |
persistent, green at anthesis, 3–6, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blades solid, flat, channeled, 15–40 cm × 1–3 mm, margins entire. |
Scape | solitary, erect, solid, terete, 20–30 cm × 1–3 mm. |
persistent, 1–3, clustered, erect, solid, terete, 15–40 cm × 1–4 mm. |
Umbel | persistent, erect, loose, 5–15(–22)-flowered, globose to hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3-veined, ovate to lance-ovate, ± equal, apex acute. |
persistent, erect, loose, 10–30-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 3–4, 4–5-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. |
Flowers | stellate, 6–9 mm; tepals erect, pink with purplish or pinkish midveins, oblong to lanceolate, slightly carinate basally, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate; stamens included; anthers yellow or pink; pollen yellow or white; ovary crestless, 3-grooved with thickened ridge on either side of groove; style linear, shorter than stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 10–20(–50) mm. |
± stellate to campanulate, 5–6 mm; tepals erect or ± spreading, ± flexuous, white or pinkish, lanceolate, ± equal, papery and withering away from fruit, margins entire or nearly so, apex obtuse, midribs thickened; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crestless; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed to distinctly lobed; pedicel 1–2.5 mm, elongating in fruit. |
Seed | coat shining; cells smooth. |
coat shining; cells smooth. |
2n | = 28. |
= 14. |
Allium rhizomatum |
Allium elmendorfii |
|
Phenology | Flowering Jul–Sep. | Flowering Mar–early Apr. |
Habitat | Dry, usually grassy areas | Sandy soil |
Elevation | 1200–2200 m (3900–7200 ft) | 100–200 m (300–700 ft) |
Distribution |
AZ; NM; TX; Mexico
|
TX |
Discussion | Allium rhizomatum has often been included within the Mexican species A. glandulosum. This reduction is unwarranted. The perianth of A. rhizomatum is pale, with the color mainly confined to the midribs. Additionally, the species can be distinguished by its 3-lobed, apically 3-grooved ovary and lack of sepal glands. Allium glandulosum has a red perianth, an apically rounded ovary, and sepal glands. The nectar produced from these glands does not show in herbarium specimens. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Of conservation concern. Allium elmendorfii is known only from the Carrizo sands of eastern Bexar, Frio, Wilson, and Atacosa counties. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 26. | FNA vol. 26, p. 255. |
Parent taxa | Liliaceae > Allium | Liliaceae > Allium |
Sibling taxa | ||
Name authority | Wooton & Standley: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 16: 114. (1913) | M. E. Jones ex Ownbey: Res. Stud. State Coll. Wash. 18: 218, fig. 8. (1951) |
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