| Allium howellii | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Allioideae |
| Genus: | Allium |
| Subgenus: | Allium subg. Melanocrommyum |
| Species: | A. howellii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Allium howellii | |
Allium howellii is a North American species of wild onion known by the common name Howell's onion. It is endemic to California.
Description[edit]
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.[2][3][4]
Varieties[edit]
Several varieties have been named:[5][6]
- Allium howellii var. clokeyi Ownbey & Aase ex Traub[7] - 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 & Aase [8] - San Benito County
Distribution and habitat[edit]
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.[9][10][6][11]
References[edit]
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
- ^ Flora of North America Allium howellii
- ^ Jepson Manual Treatment
- ^ USDA Plants Profile
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ^ a b Calflora Consortium of California Herbaria Taxon Report 199 , Allium howellii Eastw., Howell's onion
- ^ Traub, Hamilton Paul. 1972. Plant Life 28: 63–64
- ^ Traub, Hamilton Paul, & Aase, Hannah Caroline. 1959. in Munz, Philip Alexander & Keck, David Daniels. California Flora page 1376
- ^ Eastwood, Alice 1938. New Species in Liliaceae. Leaflets of Western Botany 2(7): 109
- ^ Tropicos, Allium howellii Eastw.
- ^ Biota of North America 2013 county distribution map
External links[edit]
- Calflora Database: Allium howellii (Howell's onion)
- Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Allium howellii
- UC Photos gallery of Allium howellii