Allium canadense
Sp. Pl. 2: 1195. 1753.
Bulbs 1–4+, without rhizome, with or without basal bulbels, often clustered, ovoid, 1–2.5 × 0.6–3 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish or grayish, reticulate, cells fine-meshed, open, fibrous; inner coats whitish, cells vertically elongate, sometimes contorted, walls straight or ± sinuous. Leaves persistent, green at anthesis, 2–6, basally sheathing, sheaths extending less than 1/4 scape; blade solid, flat, channeled, not carinate, 20–50 cm × 1–7 mm, margins entire or denticulate, apex acute to obtuse. Scape persistent, usually solitary, erect, terete, 10–60 cm × 1–5 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, loose, 0–60-flowered, hemispheric to globose, bulbils unknown or flowering pedicels replaced at least in part by bulbils; spathe bracts persistent, 3–4, 3–7-veined, ovate to lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate, beakless. Flowers urceolate-campanulate, 4–8 mm; tepals erect or spreading, white to pink or lavender, lanceolate to elliptic, ± equal, withering in fruit and exposing capsule, midribs somewhat thickened, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary, when present, crestless; style linear, ± equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurely 3-lobed; pedicel 8–70 mm. Seed coat shining; cells each with minute, central papilla.
Distribution
North America.
Discussion
Varieties 6 (6 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
| 1 | Flowering pedicels mostly or entirely replaced by bulbils, rarely producing capsules or seeds. | Allium canadense var. canadense |
| 1 | Flowering pedicels all floriferous, bulbils almost unknown, producing capsules and seeds. | > 2 |
| 2 | Tepals usually white. | Allium canadense var. fraseri |
| 2 | Tepals pinkish to lilac. | > 3 |
| 3 | Pedicels filiform; scape 10–30(–50) cm. | Allium canadense var. mobilense |
| 3 | Pedicels stouter, not filiform; scape 10–60 cm. | > 4 |
| 4 | Umbels 5–25-flowered; pedicels 3–4 times flowers; tepals thick. | Allium canadense var. ecristatum |
| 4 | Umbels usually more than 25-flowered; pedicels 2–5 times flowers; tepals thin. | > 5 |
| 5 | Flowers fragrant; scape 15–30 cm; nc Texas to s Oklahoma. | Allium canadense var. hyacinthoides |
| 5 | Flowers odorless; scape 20–60 cm; n Oklahoma to n Arkansas, northward. | Allium canadense var. lavendulare |