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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/1-2864/12-5112. Accessed 03 Dec. 2024.
Specimen Information
There are 94 specimens of this Species.
4852 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Pincher Creek
Date Collected1940-06-20
23876 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Lundbreck
Date Collected1955-06-23
21389 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Vermilion
Date Collected1956-06-07
32004 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Mount Galwey
Date Collected1965-06-23
4850 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Waterton River
Date Collected1953-07-09
4855 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cypress Hills
Date Collected1945-06-12
54891 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Gem
Date Collected1954-07
4845 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Nanton
Date Collected1927-07-05
37206 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Calgary
Date Collected1945-06-23
36502 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Delia
Date Collected1943-06-05
79734 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Horseshoe Lake
Date Collected1974-07-23
4849 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Grassy Lake (undet.)
Date Collected1952-05-30
4848 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort Macleod
Date Collected1952-05-29
4847 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Elkwater
Date Collected1935-07-11
41521 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park
Date Collected1967-07-02
44983 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Battle River
Date Collected1973-05-25
44965 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Nevis
Date Collected1973-05-26
45071 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Battle River
Date Collected1973-05-19
38596 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Reesor Lake
Date Collected1971-06-16
21748 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Millet
Date Collected1967-06-29
94190 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Kinsella
Date Collected1987-06-20