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Species Details
Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »
LeavesBasal, 2, linear to long lance-shaped, 10-17 cm long, 1-3 mm wide. Sheathing; margins entire or very small teeth (JSTOR). Parallel venation; alternate; grass like (National Park Service).
FlowersInflorescence an umbel, 10-30 flowers; flowers radially symmetric, pitcher- to bell-shaped; tepals 6, 5-7 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, erect, white or rarely pink, red or reddish brown midribs, outer whorl broadly egg-shaped to lance-shaped, unequal, inner whorl narrower; stamens 6, anthers yellow; pistils 1, ovary superior, stigmas capitate
Fruits and SeedsCapsule, egg-shaped; seeds black, shiney, reversely egg-shaped. Honeycombed (Moss, 1983).
Scientific Name
Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
Common Name
prairie onion
General Description
A perennial herb that grows from a bulb and bears white to pale pink flowers (National Park Service).
Leaves
Basal, 2, linear to long lance-shaped, 10-17 cm long, 1-3 mm wide. Sheathing; margins entire or very small teeth (JSTOR). Parallel venation; alternate; grass like (National Park Service).
Flowers
Inflorescence an umbel, 10-30 flowers; flowers radially symmetric, pitcher- to bell-shaped; tepals 6, 5-7 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, erect, white or rarely pink, red or reddish brown midribs, outer whorl broadly egg-shaped…
Inflorescence an umbel, 10-30 flowers; flowers radially symmetric, pitcher- to bell-shaped; tepals 6, 5-7 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, erect, white or rarely pink, red or reddish brown midribs, outer whorl broadly egg-shaped to lance-shaped, unequal, inner whorl narrower; stamens 6, anthers yellow; pistils 1, ovary superior, stigmas capitate
Fruits and Seeds
Capsule, egg-shaped; seeds black, shiney, reversely egg-shaped. Honeycombed (Moss, 1983).
Phenology
Flowers from May to June (JSTOR).
Notes
2n=14*, 28* (Moss, 1983). Formally in family Liliaceae, now in Alliaceae (Chayka, 2015).
Ethno-botanical uses:
The bulbous root is eaten as a wild onion. The Blackfoot collected the onions in May or June and boiled…
2n=14*, 28* (Moss, 1983). Formally in family Liliaceae, now in Alliaceae (Chayka, 2015).
Ethno-botanical uses:
The bulbous root is eaten as a wild onion. The Blackfoot collected the onions in May or June and boiled them with meat or preserved them for later use.
The juice of the plant has been used as a moth repellent and the whole plant is said to repel insects and moles.
Range/Distribution
Alberta: Southern and central Alberta on the prairies (Canadensys). CAN (AB, MB, SK); USA (CO, IA, ID, KS, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, SD, UT, WA, WY) (USDA).
Citation
Page Citation for Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
Page Citation
"Species Details - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr., University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-2864/12-13403. Accessed 02 Jul. 2024.
Specimen Information
There are 94 specimens of this Species.
102150 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Drumheller
Date Collected1963-05-22
102149 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Frank
Date Collected1962-06-16
75464 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Police Outpost Provincial Park, Outpost Lake
Date Collected1974-06-11
72415 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Sheep River
Date Collected1966-06-14
96211 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, RB Miller Biological Station
Date Collected1961-06-14
79733 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Battle River
Date Collected1974-06-20
73375 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Verdigris Coulee
Date Collected1958-06-26
37205 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Calgary
Date Collected1942-06-09
4859 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Manitoba, Souris River
Date Collected1950-06-14
4860 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Manitoba, Brandon
Date Collected1954-05-29
49397 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Manitoba, Brandon
Date Collected1947-05-29
73376 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Harptree
Date Collected1958-06-04
73374 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Gravelbourg
Date Collected1958-06-10
73377 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Weyburn
Date Collected1958-06-03
36509 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Buffalo Pound Lake
Date Collected1968-06-20
36305 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
Date Collected1938-05-28
104222 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Calgary
Date Collected1929-06-17
104338 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Empress
Date Collected1981-05-12
104337 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cereal
Date Collected1981-05-12
104336 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Scandia Campground
Date Collected1981-05-05
109027 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cereal
Date Collected1982-06-15