[Plate 48.] 



THE ACUMINATE ONION. 



(ALLIUM ACUMINATUM.) 



A Hardy Bulb, from California, belonging to the Order of Lilyworts. 



Specific Character. 



THE ACUMINATE ONION. — Stem leafy at the base. Leaves subulate, as long as the scape. Umbels lax; the 

 pedicels much longer than the spathe ; not bulbiferous. Sepals and petals acuminate, erect, recurved at the point, 

 the latter much smaller than the former. Filaments shorter, entire, free. Ovary and capsule obovate, without 

 appendages. 



A FEW bulbs of this charming plant were sent from California to the Horticultural Society 

 • by Mr. Hartweg. 



The name Onion conveys to an English ear ideas of anything but beauty, for many 

 common species are as ugly as plants well can be, and the handsome kinds are almost 

 unknown in gardens. Nevertheless, in a genus consisting of nearly a couple of hundred 

 species, many may be found which ought to take rank with Hyacinths and Jonquils. Of 

 these Moly and the Magical Onion are well-known examples, though now-a-days confined to 

 curious collections ; and the rare species here figured is another, much handsomer than either, 

 and probably the queen of the family. Its gay flowers, almost transparent when colourless, 

 and stained with the richest rose colour near the points, can scarcely be regarded as inferior 

 in beauty to the Guernsey Lily itself, and they are far less fugitive. 



The plant grows about a foot high, with narrow taper rushy leaves, about as long asthe scape. 



Allium acuminatum : Hooker, Flora Boreali-Americana, vol. ii., 184, t. 196. 



