Narrowleaf Onion

All three chromosome races of Allium amplectens are widespread. The triploids are achiasmatic, causing a breakdown in the first meiotic division. This is followed by a normal second division resulting in pollen dyads that are, presumably, nonfunctional; seeds are produced by apomixis. The diploids and tetraploids produce normal pollen, in tetrads, that appears to be functional.

Bulbs 1–15+, increase bulbs absent or ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to ± globose, 0.6–1.5 × 0.6–1.3 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, prominently cellular-reticulate, membranous, cells in ± vertical rows, forming irregular herringbone pattern, transversely elongate, V-shaped, without fibers; inner coats usually dark red, sometimes white to pink, cells obscure, quadrate. Leaves persistent, withering from tip at anthesis, 2–4, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, subterete or ± channeled, 10–36 cm × 0.5–2 mm, margins entire. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 15–50 cm × 3–5 mm. Umbel shattering after seeds mature, each flower deciduous with its pedicel as a unit, erect, compact, 10–50-flowered, hemispheric, bulbels unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 6–13-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex short-acuminate. Flowers stellate, 5–9 mm; tepals spreading at anthesis, white to pink, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery and connivent over capsule, margins entire, apex acute; stamens included; anthers yellow or purple; pollen yellow; ovary crested; processes 6, lateral, ± prominent, ± rectangular, margins entire; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 4–16 mm. Seed coat dull; cells minutely roughened. 2n = 14, 21, 28.

B.C.; Calif., Oreg., Wash.

Flowering Apr--Jul.

Clay soils, including serpentine, dry slopes, and open plains; 0--1800m.

Allium acuminatum Hooker var. gracile Alph. Wood; A. attenuifolium Kellogg; A. attenuifolium var. monospermum (Jepson) Jepson; A. monospermum Jepson; A. occidentale A. Gray; A. serratum S. Watson

Allium amplectens is distributed from British Columbia southware through Washington State, Oregon and into California Floristic Province (except for the High Sierra Nevada). Occurrences are below 1800 meters in elevation.

Allium amplectens, the narrowleaf onion, is a species of onion plant. It is native to the west coast of the United States, in Oregon, Washington State and California, also British Columbia in Canada. It grows in woods and especially in clay and serpentine soils.