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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.
137139 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Sommerfeldt Ranch
Date Collected1996-06-01/1996-06-02
137686 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Witt Property
Date Collected2010-07-03
139340 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Milk River Provincial Natural Area
Date Collected1962-06-15
139929 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Nisku
Date Collected2017-06-21
140114 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Setaspell Outpost
Date Collected2017-06-01
140113 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Setaspell Outpost
Date Collected2017-05-30
139878 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Castle Road
Date Collected2011-06-24
141996 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Mattheis Research Ranch
Date Collected2018-06-06
142358 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Castle Provincial Park, Corrals
Date Collected2018-05-30
143445 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Okotoks
Date Collected1967-06-07