Allium elmendorfii

Allium elmendorfii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Allioideae
Genus:	Allium
Species:	A. elmendorfii
Binomial name
Allium elmendorfii M. E. Jones ex Ownbey

Allium elmendorfii is a species of wild onion endemic to Texas. It is known only from Bexar, Frio, Wilson, and Atascosa Counties. It is generally found on sandy soils.^[1]

Allium elmendorfii is a bulb-forming herb with clusters of small bulbils around the roots, but without the dry papery outer layers that the domesticated onions have. It has an umbel of 10-30 erect to spreading flowers, each with 6 white to pinkish tepals about 5 cm (2 inches) long.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Uses

Allium elmendorfii is related to the common domesticated onion, Allium cepa L., and has a similar aroma. It can be eaten in the same manner, as can most of the members of the genus.

References

1. Flora of North America, vol 26, p 255.
2. Poole, J.M. et al. 2007. Rare Plants of Texas, Texas A&M Nature Guides, page 72.
3. Carr, W.R. 2005. University of Texas at Austin, photo
4. Ownbey, Francis Marion. 1950. Research Studies of the State College of Washington 18(4): 218–219, f. 8.
5. Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texasi–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson.
6. Traub, H. P. 1968. New Guatemalan and Mexican Alliums. Plant Life 24(2–4): 127–142.