Allium abramsii

Allium abramsii is a species of wild onion native to the Sierra Nevada of California. It is known by the common name Abrams' onion.

Taxonomy

The Allium abramsii is a part of the Amaryllidaceae family, which is a family of herbaceous, mainly perennial and bulbous (rarely rhizomatous) flowering plants. The species is named after LeRoy Abrams, an American botanist who specialized in the flora of California.

Description

Allium abramsii is a bulb-forming perennial herb producing an erect stem up to about 30 centimeters tall. The bulb is up to 2 centimeters long and is coated in brown or black fibers. There are up to three leaves which are flat, narrow, and slightly keeled, measuring up to 40 centimeters long. The inflorescence contains up to 50 flowers, each mounted on a pedicel up to 3 centimeters long. The flower has six tepals each up to a centimeter long and ranging in color from pink to purple.

Distribution and habitat

Allium abramsii is endemic to California, where it is known from several populations in the High Sierra. It grows in rocky and sandy habitat, including areas recently cleared by wildfire.

Conservation status

The Allium abramsii is not currently listed under any conservation status. However, due to its limited distribution, it is potentially vulnerable to habitat loss and other environmental changes.

Cultivation

While not commonly cultivated, Allium abramsii can be grown in a garden setting. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun exposure. The bulbs should be planted in the fall, and the plants will bloom in the spring.

References

• Abrams, L. 1904. A new Allium. Muhlenbergia 1:14–15.
• McNeal, D. W. 1992. Allium. In: J. C. Hickman, ed. The Jepson Manual. Higher plants of California. Pp. 1094–1099. Univ. California Press, Berkeley.

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