Allium stellatum
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|taxon=Allium stellatum
|parent=Allium subg. Amerallium
|image=Allium stellatum TN.jpg
|image_alt=
| status = G5
| status_system = TNC
|synonyms_ref=
|synonyms=
- Stelmesus stellatus (Nutt. ex Ker Gawl.) Raf.
- Hexonychia stellatum (Nutt. ex Ker Gawl.) Salisb.
}}
Allium stellatum, commonly known as the autumn onion, prairie onion,{{ITIS |id=42669 |taxon=Allium stellatum |access-date=2010-03-20}} cliff onion,{{cite web |title=Cliff Onion (Allium stellatum) |url=https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/cl_onionx.htm |website=www.illinoiswildflowers.info}} or glade onion,{{cite web |title=NatureServe Explorer 2.0 |url=https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.161018/Allium_stellatum |website=explorer.natureserve.org}} is a North American species of wild onion in the Amaryllidaceae family that is native to central Canada and the central United States.
Description
Allium stellatum is a perennial forming a bulb underground. An erect, leafless scape up to {{convert |30-60|cm|ft|0|}} tall arises from grass-like basal leaves that are up to {{convert |1|ft|cm|0| order=flip|}} long. {{NPIN|ALST|Allium stellatum |access-date=2010-03-24}}{{cite web |title=Allium stellatum - Plant Finder |url=https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=281848 |website=www.missouribotanicalgarden.org}} The leaves die back as the rounded umbel of pink to purple flowers forms at the end of the scape in the summer. The umbel is approximately {{convert |2-3|in|cm|0| order=flip|}} across, and each of the tiny flowers is slightly longer than {{convert |.25|in|cm|1| order=flip|}}, with 3 petals and 3 sepals that flare outward. The bulbs are strongly flavored but edible.
Etymology
The genus name Allium is from the classical Latin name for garlic. The species name stellatum is botanical Latin for "starry", and refers to the umbels. This species was described for science by John Bellenden Ker Gawler in 1813.{{cite web |title=Pink Wild Onion (Allium stellatum) |last=Kantrud |first=Harold A. |date=1995 |url=http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/wildflwr/species/allistel.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813125544/http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/wildflwr/species/allistel.htm |archive-date=2014-08-13 |website=Native Wildflowers of the North Dakota Grasslands |publisher=Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |access-date=2010-03-24}}Nuttall, Thomas, ex Ker Gawler, John Bellenden. 1813 Botanical Register 38: plate 1576
Distribution and habitat
The plant ranges from Ontario and Saskatchewan south to Tennessee and Texas.{{eFloras|1|242101406|Allium stellatum |family=Liliaceae |first1=Dale W. |last=McNeal Jr. |first2=T. D. |last2=Jacobsen}}{{BONAP|ref |genus=Allium |species=stellatum}} Allium stellatum grows in rocky, sandy soil.{{cite web |url=http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=ALLSTE |title=Allium stellatum |publisher=Robert W. Freckmann Herbarium University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928013134/http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?SpCode=ALLSTE |archive-date=2011-09-28 |access-date=2010-03-24}}
Ecology
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{PFAF|Allium stellatum}}
{{Allium|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q4732938}}
Category:Plants described in 1813
Category:Flora of Western Canada
Category:Flora of Eastern Canada
Category:Flora of the Northeastern United States
Category:Flora of the Southeastern United States