Drummond's Onion

Bulbs 1–5, without basal bulbels, ovoid, 1–1.8 × 0.7–1.5 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, reticulate, cells fine-meshed, mostly closed in proximal 1/2 of bulb, fibrous; inner coats whitish or brownish, cells intricately contorted, walls usually not sinuous. Leaves persistent, green at anthesis, 2–5, sheathing; blade solid, flat, channeled, 10–30 cm × 1–3(–5) mm, margins entire. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, terete, 10–30 cm × 1–3 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, compact to ± loose, usually 10–25-flowered, hemispheric-globose, rarely replaced by bulbils; spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 1-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers campanulate to ± stellate, 6–9 mm; tepals spreading, white, pink, or red, rarely greenish yellow, ovate to lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery and rigid in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse or acute, midribs somewhat thickened; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen light yellow; ovary crestless; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurely lobed; pedicel 5–20 mm. Seed coat shining; cells each usually with minute, central papilla. 2n = 14, 28.

Ark., Kans., Neb., N.Mex., Okla., Tex.; Mexico.

Flowering Mar--Jun.

Plains, hills, and prairies, particularly in limestone soils; 0--1600m.

Allium helleri Small; A. nuttallii S. Watson; A. reticulatum Fraser ex G. Don var. nuttallii (S. Watson) M. E. Jones

Allium drummondii, also known as Drummond's onion, wild garlic and prairie onion, is a North American species of onion native to the southern Great Plains of North America. It is found in South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, New Mexico, and northeastern Mexico.

Allium drummondii is a bulb-forming perennial. The flowers appear in April and May, in a variety of colors ranging from white to pink. It is common, considered invasive in some regions.