Allium polyrhizum Turcz. ex Regel

Bulbs densely clustered, cylindric, 0.5--1 cm in diam.; tunic yellowish brown to dark chestnut brown, subreticulate to reticulate. Leaves shorter than scape, 0.3--1 mm wide, semiterete, scabrous-denticulate or rarely smooth on margin. Scape 7--30 cm, terete, covered with leaf sheaths only at base. Spathe 2- or 3-valved, persistent. Umbel hemispheric, densely many flowered. Pedicels 1--2 × as long as perianth, bracteolate or rarely ebracteolate. Perianth purple-red to pale purple-red, rarely white; segments with red midvein; outer ones ovate to narrowly so, 3--5 × 1.5-- 2.5 mm; inner ones oblong-ovate, 4--6 × 1.5--2 mm. Filaments equal, equaling or slightly longer than perianth segments, connate at base for 1/6--1/3 their length, adnate to perianth segments for 1/3--1/2 of connate part; outer ones subulate; inner ones broadened at base, 1-toothed on each side. Ovary ovoid, without concave nectaries at base. Style longer than ovary, exserted. Fl. and fr. Jun--Aug. 2 n = 32*.

Gansu, N Hebei, W Heilongjiang, W Jilin, N Liaoning, Nei Mongol, N Ningxia, Qinghai, N Shaanxi, N Shanxi, Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia].

Sunny slopes, pastures, saline-alkaline soils, gravelly places, desert steppes; 1000--3700 m.

Allium polyrhizum var. przewalskii Regel.

Allium polyrhizum is a species of wild onion widespread across Zabaykalsky Krai, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China (Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Xinjiang) at elevations 1000–3700 m.

Allium polyrhizum produces clumps of many narrowly cylindrical bulbs, each generally less than 10 cm in diameter. Scape is up to 30 cm long, round in cross-section. Leaves are tubular, less than 1 cm across, shorter than the scape. Umbel is hemispheric with many densely packed flowers. Tepals are usually pink or purple but occasionally white, either way with a green midvein.