Allium cratericola

Eastwood

Leafl. W. Bot. 1: 132. 1934.

IllustratedEndemic
Synonyms: Allium parvum var. brucae M. E. Jones Allium parvum var. jacintense Munz
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 271. Mentioned on page 232, 272.

Bulbs 1–3, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid, 1.5–2.5 × 1–2 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown or gray, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers; inner coats white, cells obscure, ± quadrate, or not visible. Leaves usually deciduous with scape, withering from tip at anthesis, 1–2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, straight or weakly falcate, flat or broadly channeled, 10–30 cm × 1–21 mm, margins entire. Scape usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 2–12 cm × 1–3 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, compact, 20–30-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2–4(–6), 10–16-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers campanulate, 7–14 mm; tepals erect, white or pink to purplish with dark greenish brown or purple midveins, lance-oblong, elliptic, or ± oblanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery and investing fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crested; processes 3, central, rounded, minute, margins entire; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 5–18 mm. Seed coat dull; cells ± smooth. 2n = 14, 28.


Phenology: Flowering Mar–Jun.
Habitat: Serpentine, volcanic, and granitic soil
Elevation: 300–1800 m

Discussion

Populations of Allium cratericola from southern California are 2-leaved, while those from the north are either 1- or 2-leaved or sometimes a mixture of both forms.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.