146 



LILIACE^E. 



Allium. 



1. ALLIUM, Linn. ONION. 



Perianth of 6 nearly equal and distinct segments, lanceolate to linear, usually 

 somewhat spreading, 1-nerved, mostly white or rose-colored, often gibbous at base, 

 persistent. Stamens 6, on the base of the segments ; filaments naked, h'liform with 

 a more or less dilated deltoid base ; anthers ovate-oblong, versatile. Ovary sessile, 

 subglobose, deeply 3-lobed, with a very short axis : ovules 2 at the base of each 

 cell (rarely 1 or several), ascending; style filiform, persistent, the lower part nearly 

 free between the cells and jointed on the axis ; stigma rarely thickened or 3-lobed. 

 Capsule obtusely 3-lobed, obovate-globose, often crested, loculicidally dehiscent. 

 Seeds obovoid and wrinkled, with thin dull black testa. Scape from a tunicated 

 sometimes rhizomatous bulb, very rarely from a coated corm, bearing an umbel sub- 

 tended by a 2-valved (rarely 3 5-valved) spathe ; pedicels not jointed ; odor and 

 taste strongly alliaceous. 



One of the largest genera of the order, numbering about 250 species, and confined almost ex- 

 clusively to the northern temperate zone ; only 2 or 3 are South American and as many Mexican. 

 Several of the Old World species have been largely cultivated from very early times, as the Onion 

 (A. Cepa), Garlic (A. sativum), Leek (A. Porrum), Schallott (A. Ascalomcum), and Chives (A. 

 Schcenoprasum) ; the latter species is also indigenous to America, from the Great Lakes to Wash- 

 ington Territory and northward. Many of the Californian species are peculiar either in their 

 more or less solid bulb, in the markings of the bulb-coats, in their ancipital scapes, or in other 

 characters. Most of the groups are readily recognized by a peculiar habit. The reticulation of 

 the bulb-coats, when it occurs, is in some species recognizable by the naked eye or with a simple 

 lens, but in others needs a glass of moderate power for its clear definition ; the markings are 

 usually confined to a few among the outer coats. 



Scape stout, tall, terete, from an ovate coated corm and propagating by 



a lateral bulb-bearing offshoot : leaves 2 or more, linear. 

 Bracts acuminate : flowers large, on long pedicels : stamens included : 



capsule not crested. 1. A. UMFOLIUM. 



Scape compressed, from an oblong coated bulb crowning a rhizome . 

 leaves several, linear : bracts short, united : flowers small, 

 on short pedicels. 



Stout : bracts 2 to 4 : flowers numerous : segments narrowly acumi- 

 nate : stamens exserted : capsule not crested : bulb white. 2. 

 Slender : bracts 2 : perianth-segments acute : stamens included : 



capsule shortly crested : bulb deep red. 3. 



Scape terete, slender : bulb small, ovate, not rhizomatous : leaves 



narrowly linear : stamens included, except in n. 6. 

 Leaves 2 or more, sheathing : scape 4 to 10 inches high or more. 

 Ovary obscurely crested : perianth-segments serrulate, rose- 

 colored. 

 Reticulation prominent, quadrate : flowers deep rose-color, the 



segments with acuminate recurved tips. 4. 



Reticulation more obscure, undulate-serrate : segments narrowly 



acuminate : filaments filiform. 5. 



Ovary 6-crested : segments entire. 



Scapes usually rather tall : flowers numerous, white or light- 

 pink, the perianth becoming thin and lax. 



Bracts 4 segments oblong-lanceolate : stamens exserted. (>. 



Bracts 2 segments ovate-lanceolate : stamens included. 7. 



Scapes low perianth rose-colored, becoming rather rigid. 

 Filaments deltoid at base. 



Reticulation evident, transversely zigzag : segments ovate- 

 lanceolate : crests narrow, central. 8. 

 Reticulation indistinct : segments oblong-lanceolate, acumi- 

 nate : crests conspicuous. 9. 

 Reticulation distinctly quadrate : segments oblong-lanceo- 

 late, acuminate : crests obscure. 10. 



A. VALIDUM. 



A. H.EMATOCHITON. 



A. ACUMINATUM. 

 A. BOLANDEKI. 



A. SANBORNI. 



A. ATTENU1FOL1VJM. 



A. SERRATUM. 

 A. BISCEPTRUM. 

 A. LACUNOSUM. 



