Geographical Distribution of the Genus Allium. 117 



scape ; the latter has the leaves flat, and lance oblong-. Neither, 

 therefore, can possibly be confounded with the Allium cepa, the 

 true garden onion. 



Allium cernuum and A. Canadense, somewhat more northern 

 species, are also sufficiently distinct. The former has the leaves 

 linear, sharply keeled, a loose or drooping umbel of rose-colored 

 flowers, borne on an angular scape ; the A. Canadense, well known 

 in this province, has also the leaves linear, and the flowers of a 

 pale rose color. 



Allium Schoenoprasum (the Chive) is met with from the shores 

 of Lake Huron and Lake Superior as far as Great Bear Lake in 

 a northerly direction, and along the banks of the streams to the 

 Rocky Mountains, westwards. Douglas and Dr. Tolmie also ob- 

 tained it on some of the tributaries of the Columbia. It is the 

 only Allium which we discern in this latitude as crossing the 

 whole breadth of the continent, or we should rather say acquainted 

 with the waters of the Columbia as well as of the St. Lawrence. 

 Latterly it has been looked upon as the same plant as the A. Si- 

 biricum ; in which case we may allow it a still greater extension 

 than Europe and North America, and almost admit that it encir- 

 cles the globe in the northern temperate zone. Its mode of 

 growth, its deeply colored sepals, and other specific characters, 

 separate it from Allium cepa as well as from others of its genus. 

 We cannot but admire the acute discrimination of the botanist, 

 whether Linnaeus or another, who first gave the specific name. 

 Whoever has plaited rushes on the springy brae, whether in the 

 form of garters or fools-caps, or baskets for gowans, will admit 

 that he was no goose that gave to Chive its specific name ; and 

 whoever has been a year at college will own that there is no lan- 

 guage so well adapted as the Greek for giving a combination of 

 ideas in one epithet or term. To resume our subject, we come to 

 our fourth section. 



Allium stellatum and A. reticulatum (the latter being proba- 

 bly the A. angulosum of Pursh) are plants common to the plains 

 of the Saskatchewan, but have been also found, it is said, on the 

 north-west coast. Their non-occurrence on the plateau westward 

 of the Rocky Mountains, between that mighty range and the 

 volcanic ridges of Mounts Rainier, St. Helens, Hood, and Jeffer- 

 son, may be accounted for by the dryness of that region, the 

 sanely wormwood plains of the middle country possessing an 

 atmosphere in many situations as arid as the steppes of Tartary. 



