Allium scilloides

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.^[3][4] The species is sometimes cultivated in other regions as an ornamental.^[5]

Allium scilloides growing on dry basalt flats, Douglas County Washington

Fragile onion
Conservation status
Imperiled  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Allioideae
Genus:	Allium
Species:	A. scilloides
Binomial name
Allium scilloides Douglas ex S. Wats.
Synonyms[2]
Allium fragile A.Nelson

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.^{[3][6][7][8][9]}

Gallery

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  Growing on gravel
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  Growing on rocky soil