Allium perdulce, the Plains onion, is a plant species native to the central part of the United States and cultivated as an ornamental elsewhere. It has been found in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and one county in western Iowa (Woodbury County).Flora of North America, Allium perdulceBONAP (Biota of North America Program), 2014 county distribution map, Allium perdulce
The species name, "perdulce", is neo Latin meaning "especially sweet". This is a reference to the scent of the flowers which resembles hyacinths.
Allium perdulceproduces 2-20 bulbs, each up to 3 cm (1.2 inches) in diameter. Flowers are urn-shaped, up to 10 mm (0.4 inches) across; tepals deep rose to purple (except in var. sperryi; see below); pollen yellow.Fraser, Samuel Victorian. 1940. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 42: 124–126.Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains i–vii, 1–1392. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence.Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson.
Two varieties are recognized:The Plant List
Allium perdulce var. perdulce Allium perdulce var. sperryi OwnbeyOwnbey, Francis Marion. 1950. Research Studies of the State College of Washington 18(4): 202–203, f. 4.Traub, Hamilton Paul, & Ownbey, Francis Marion. 1967. Plant Life 23: 110.photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, isotype of Allium perdulce var. sperryi
Var. sperryi is a color variant known only from western Texas in the trans-Pecos region. It has white to pale pink flowers instead of the more widespread deep rose to purple.
Cultivation The plains onion prefers sandy loam soil. Though tolerant of drought conditions they will make good use of some additional moisture when in cultivation.
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