Allium atrorubens

S. Watson

Botany (Fortieth Parallel), 352, plate 38, figs. 4, 5. 1871.

Endemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 248. Mentioned on page 224, 229.

Bulbs 1–3, not clustered on primary rhizome, with 0–2 stalked basal bulbels, ovoid to globose, 1–1.6 × 0.8–1.4 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers; inner coats pink or white, cells obscure, quadrate. Leaves persistent, 1, basally sheathing, sheath not extending much above soil level; blade solid, terete, 8–22 cm × 1–2.5 mm. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 5–17 cm × 1–3 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, ± compact, 5–50-flowered, hemispheric to globose, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, (2–)3, 3–6-veined, ovate to lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers campanulate, 8–12 mm; tepals erect, pale pink to deep reddish purple, rarely white, lanceolate to ovate, ± equal or inner longer and narrower than outer, becoming rigid and ± keeled in fruit, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate; stamens included; anthers purple; pollen white or light yellow; ovary crested; processes 6, prominent, ± triangular, margins entire to notched or shallowly toothed; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma obscurely capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 10–22 mm. Seed coat dull or shining; cells minutely roughened.

Distribution

V26 443-distribution-map.jpg

Intermountain w United States.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Tepals deep reddish purple (rarely pure white), lanceolate, apex margins becoming involute, apex thus appearing long-acuminate. Allium atrorubens var. atrorubens
1 Tepals pale pink with darker midveins, lance-ovate to ovate, apex margins flat, not becoming involute. Allium atrorubens var. cristatum