Allium winklerianum Regel

Bulb globose, 0.75--2 cm in diam.; tunic blackish gray, usually papery. Leaves (1 or)2--4, broadly linear, shorter than scape, (5--)10--25 mm wide, margin smooth or scabrous-denticulate, apex acute. Scape subterranean, 15--40 cm, terete, covered with leaf sheaths only at base. Spathe 2-valved, persistent; beak short. Umbel hemispheric, densely many flowered. Pedicels equal, ca. 1.5 × as long as perianth, ebracteolate. Perianth pinkish lilac to red-lilac, faded after anthesis, campanulate; segments without strong midvein, linear-oblong, 7--10(--15) × 2.5--3 mm, apex rounded. Filaments ca. 1/2 as long as perianth segments, connate for 1/2--2/3 their length and adnate to perianth segments, apex triangular; inner ones wider than outer. Ovary ovoid, without concave nectaries; ovules 4 or more per locule. Style short. Fl. May--Jun. 2 n = 16.

W Xinjiang (basin of Ili He) [C Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan].

Forests, scrub, moist slopes; 1000--2500 m.

Allium winklerianum is an Asian species of onion native to Xinjiang, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. It is also cultivated as an ornamental elsewhere because of the pretty flowers and also because of the strong lilac scent to the blooms.

Allium winklerianum has a round bulb up to 2 cm in diameter. Scape is up to 40 cm tall. Leaves are flat, shorter than the scape, up to 25 mm across. Umbel is hemispheric, with many flowers crowded together. Tepals are lilac-colored.