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 ; hlaments naked, hiiform 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-lobeil. 

 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-A'alved (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 ahiiost ex- 

 cUisivcly 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. 

 Schmioprasum) ; 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 aneipital scajjcs, 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 conn and projiagatiiig 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. unifolium. 



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

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

 on short pedicels. 

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

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

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



capsule shortly crested : bulb deep red. 3. A. HjEMAtochiton. 



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 ] inches high or more. 

 Ovary obscurely cresteil : perianth-segments serrulate, rose- 

 colored. 

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



.segments with acuminate recurved tips. 4. A. acuminatum. 



Reticulation more obscure, undulate-serrate : .segments narrowly 



acuminate : filaments filiform. " .5. A. BoLANDf:ui. 



Ovary 6-crested : segments entire. 



Scape.s usually ralher tall : flowers numerous, white or light- 

 pink, the perianth becoming thin and lax. 

 Bracts 4 : segments oblong-lanceolate : stamens exserted. G. A. Sanborni. 



Biacts 2 : segments ovate-lanceolate : stamens included. 7. A. attenuifolium. 



Scapes low : ])eiianth rose- colored, becoming rather rigid. 

 Filaments deltoid at base. 



Reticulation evident, transversely zigzag : segments ovate- 

 lanceolate : crests narrow, central. 8. A. sekratum. 

 Reticulation indistinct : .segments oblong-lanceolate, acumi- 

 nate : crests conspicuous. 9. A. bisceptuum. 

 Reticulation distinctly quadrate : segments oblong-lanceo- 

 late, acuminate : crests obscure. 10. A. lacunosu.m. 



