Allium rhizomatum |
Allium sharsmithiae |
|
---|---|---|
spreading wild onion |
Sharsmith'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. |
usually solitary, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, ovoid to globose, 1–1.8 × 1–1.5 cm; outer coats enclosing bulb, reddish brown, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers; inner coats pale brown, cells obscure, quadrate. |
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, withering from tip by anthesis, 1, basally sheathing, sheath not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, terete, 15–25 cm × 1–4 mm. |
Scape | solitary, erect, solid, terete, 20–30 cm × 1–3 mm. |
persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 4–17 cm × 1–2.5 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, compact, 5–50-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 3–8-veined, lanceolate to lance-ovate, ± equal, apex long-acuminate to setaceous. |
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. |
urceolate, 10–18 mm; tepals erect, deep reddish purple, linear-lanceolate to lance-ovate, ± equal, becoming rigid in fruit, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse, recurved-spreading at tips; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crested; processes 6, prominent, ± triangular, margins entire, surfaces usually papillate; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, 3-lobed, lobes slender, recurved; pedicel 6–19 mm. |
Seed | coat shining; cells smooth. |
coat dull or shining; cells minutely roughened. |
2n | = 28. |
= 14. |
Allium rhizomatum |
Allium sharsmithiae |
|
Phenology | Flowering Jul–Sep. | Flowering Apr–May. |
Habitat | Dry, usually grassy areas | Serpentine clay soil on talus slopes |
Elevation | 1200–2200 m (3900–7200 ft) | 500–1100 m (1600–3600 ft) |
Distribution |
AZ; NM; TX; Mexico
|
CA |
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 sharsmithiae is known only from the Mount Hamilton Range. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 26. | FNA vol. 26, p. 252. |
Parent taxa | Liliaceae > Allium | Liliaceae > Allium |
Sibling taxa | ||
Synonyms | A. fimbriatum var. sharsmithiae | |
Name authority | Wooton & Standley: Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 16: 114. (1913) | (Ownbey & Aase ex Traub) McNeal: Aliso 13: 417. (1992) |
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