Allium obtusum is a species of wild onion known by the common name red Sierra onion or subalpine onion. It is native to eastern California and western Nevada. It is a common plant in the granite foothills and mountains of the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range, from Tulare County to Siskiyou County, from elevations of . In Nevada, it is reported only from Washoe County in the northwestern part of the state.Jepson . accessed 1.30.2013Calflora database: Allium obtusum . accessed 1.30.2013USDA Plants Profile for Allium obtusum (red Sierra onion)Flora of North America v 26 p 269, Allium obtusumBONAP (Biota of North America Program) floristic synthesis, Allium obtusum
Description The red Sierra onion, Allium obtusum, grows from a bulb one or two centimeters wide and bears a scape which can range from 2 to 17 cm tall. Unlike Allium campanulatum, A. obtusum has leaves that do not wither before the flowers bloom. Atop the scape is an umbel of up to 60 flowers, each of which may be 4 to 12 millimeters wide. The tepals are white, purple, or pink with dark purple midveins. Anthers are yellow or purple; pollen purple.Hickman, J. C. 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California 1–1400. University of California Press, Berkeley. — Allium obtusumAllium obtusum — U.C. Photo galleryLemmon, John Gill. 1890. Pittonia 2(8A): 69
Varieties Two varieties are recognized:Calflora database: Allium obtusum var. obtusum
Allium obtusum var. obtusum—Leaves 0.5-4.0 mm wide; tepals white with dark midveins—most of the range of the species Allium obtusum var. conspicuum Mortola & McNealMortola, W. R. & McNeal, Dale W. 1985. Aliso 11(1): 33, f. 7.—Leaves 2–14 mm wide; tepals pink with darker midvein—from about Lake Tahoe area to Mt Lassen area
See also List of plants of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.) California interior chaparral and woodlands Sierra Nevada subalpine zone
References
External links
Calflora Database: Allium obtusum (red Sierra onion) Jepson eFlora treatment of Allium obtusum USDA Plants Profile for Allium obtusum (red Sierra onion) Allium obtusum — UC. Photos gallery