Allium scilloides, called the fragile onion, is a plant species endemic to the US State of Washington. It has been reported from only 4 counties, all on the eastern side of the Cascade Range: Klickitat, Kittitas, Yakima and Grant. It grows on barren, gravelly or rocky slopes at elevations of 300–1300 m.Flora of North America v 26 p 275, Allium scilloidesBONAP (Biota of North America Project) floristic synthesis, Allium scilloides The species is sometimes cultivated in other regions as an ornamental.
Description Allium scilloides produces bulbs along an underground rhizome, each bulb round to egg-shaped, up to 2 cm across. There are usually two thick flattened leaves that curl near the ends and are often nearly prostrate on the ground. Flowers are bell-shaped, about 7 mm across; tepals white, pink or purplish with green midribs; anthers purple; pollen white to gray. Flower buds are often dark red to dark pink before opening.Watson, Sereno. 1879. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 14: 229.Hitchcock, C. H., A.J. Cronquist, F. M. Ownbey & J. W. Thompson. 1969. Vascular Cryptogams, Gymnosperms, and Monocotyledons. 1: 1–914. In C. L. Hitchcock Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle.Nelson, Aven. 1926. University of Wyoming Publications in Science. Botany 1(5): 123–124, f. 7.Onions of the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington, Paul Slichter
Gallery
References