[Onions: The Genus Allium in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Narrow-leaf Onion, Slim-leaf Onion

Allium amplectens

Synonyms: Allium acuminatum var. gracile, Allium attenuifolium, Allium attenuifolium var. monospermum, Allium monospermum, Allium occidentale, Allium serratum

The photo above shows a close-up of the attractive inflorescence of narrow-leaf onion as seen in late May 2006.

Characteristics:

Narrow-leaf onion is an attractive perennial wildflower which arises from an ovoid to globose bulb . The 2-4 leaves are found at the ground or low on the scape and are shorter than the scape. Individual leaves are concave-convex and slender in cross-section and typically wither by the time plants bloom. The scape is round in cross-section, 10-40 cm high, and is capped by a few- to many-flowered umbel.

The slender pedicels are up to twice as long as the length of the flowers. The 2-3 bracts are wide, tapering fairly abruptly to a point. The bracts are also 7-9 nerved. The white to rose-colored tepals are broadly lanceolate in shape and 5-7 mm long. The stamens are about as long as the tepals with oblong anthers. The ovary and fruit are crested with 6 low bumps.

Habitat:

Narrow-leaf onion may be found on dry open ground and rocky streambeds.

Range:

Narrow-leaf onion may be found on Vancouver island, on the San Juan Islands, in the Willamette Valley and south to southern California, in the Columbia River Gorge and also near Lakeview, OR and on the Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon.

In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found between the elevations of 100'-300' on the Major Creek Plateau.

The photo above shows a close-up of the flowers of narrow-leaf onion as seen in late May 2006.

Additional close-ups of the inflorescence and weed-filled habitat of narrow-leaf onion as seen at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge........June 23, 2010.

Paul Slichter