Columbian Onion

Bulbs 1–5+, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, ovoid, 1–1.5 × 0.8–1.4 cm; outer bulb coats brownish or grayish, enclosing 1 or more bulbs, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers; inner coats white to pink, cells obscure, ± quadrate. Leaves usually persistent, green at anthesis, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, flat, broadly channeled, ± falcate, 10–35 cm × (2–)5–8 mm, margins entire. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, enlarged proximal to inflorescence, (10–)20–30(–40) cm × 1.5–4 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, compact, 25–50-flowered, hemispheric to globose, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 3, 5–7-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acute. Flowers ± stellate, (6–)7–8(–10) mm; tepals spreading, light pink to purple with prominent green midribs, narrowly lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex acuminate; stamens equaling or longer than tepals; anthers blue-gray; pollen light blue to gray; ovary crested; processes 6, 2 per lobe, low, rounded, margins entire; style exserted, linear; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 10–20 mm. Seed coat shining; cells smooth. 2n = 14.

Idaho, Mont., Wash.

Flowering May--Jul.

Winter-wet, shallow soils on rock outcrops, or wet meadows; 300--1100m.

Allium douglasii Hooker var. columbianum Ownbey & Mingrone in C. L. Hitchcock et al., Vasc. Pl. Pacif. N.W. 1: 747. 1969

Allium columbianum, the Columbian onion, is a species of onion native to eastern Washington (Pend Oreille, Spokane, Lincoln and Whitman Counties), northern Idaho (Idaho, Clearwater, Latah and Kootenai Counties), and the Bitterroot Mountains of western Montana (Ravalli and Sanders Counties). It is a perennial herb that grows on shallow, wet soils at elevations of 300–1100 m.

Allium columbianum produces egg-shaped bulbs up to 15 mm long. Flowers are up to 10 mm across, pink to light purple with green midrib; anthers and pollen blue to gray. Flowers bloom May to July.