Allium howellii is a North American species of wild onion known by the common name Howell's onion. It is endemic to California.
Description Allium howellii is a tall onion plant, producing a stem which may exceed half a meter in height from a reddish-brown bulb one to two centimeters long. There is a single cylindrical leaf about as long as the stem. The inflorescence holds up to 100 dark-veined lavender to white flowers, each under a centimeter long.Flora of North America Allium howelliiJepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants Profile
Varieties Several varieties have been named:Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Allium howellii var. clokeyi Ownbey & Aase ex TraubTraub, Hamilton Paul. 1972. Plant Life 28: 63–64 - San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara counties Allium howellii var. howellii - Merced, Fresno, Kern, San Luis Obispo counties Allium howellii var. sanbenitense (Traub) Ownbey & AaseTraub, Hamilton Paul, & Aase, Hannah Caroline. 1959. in Munz, Philip Alexander & Keck, David Daniels. California Flora page 1376 - San Benito County
Distribution and habitat Howell's onion grows in the granite and serpentine soils of several mountain ranges, hills, and valleys from San Joaquin County to San Bernardino County.Eastwood, Alice 1938. New Species in Liliaceae. Leaflets of Western Botany 2(7): 109Tropicos, Allium howellii Eastw.Calflora Consortium of California Herbaria Taxon Report 199, Allium howellii Eastw., Howell's onion Biota of North America 2013 county distribution map
References
External links Calflora Database: Allium howellii (Howell's onion) Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Allium howellii UC Photos gallery of Allium howellii