Wild Onion
Allium unifolium
(Liliaceae)
The genus Allium, which includes onions, shallots, leeks, chives, and garlic includes about 500 species worldwide. Because species in this genus share a remarkably uniform floral morphology, it often takes a microscope to tell them apart. The surface patterns of the bulb coat provide the most useful features when attempting to distinguish the many species. In Allium unifolium the bulb coat is made up of wavy lines crossing like a jigsaw puzzle.
DISTRIBUTION: Uncommon in moist clay or serpentine, especially grassy streambanks from western NW Calif. to central western Calif.; < 1100 m.
