Allium tricoccum
in W. Aiton, Hort. Kew 1: 428. 1789.
Bulbs 2–6, usually borne on short rhizome, ovoid-conic, 1.5–6 × 1.5–3 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish to grayish, reticulate, cells finely fibrous; inner coat white, obscurely cellular, cells irregularly arranged. Leaves ephemeral, usually absent at anthesis, 2–3, basal; blade solid, flat, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, (15–)20–30(–40) cm × 15–90 mm, tapering to long, slender petiole, margins entire. Scape persistent, solitary, flexuous distally, terete, 10–40 cm × 2–4 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, loose, (6–)30–50-flowered, obconic to ± hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, ± 3-veined, lanceolate to lance-ovate, ± equal, apex acute, beakless. Flowers campanulate, 4–7 mm; tepals erect, white to cream or yellowish, oblong to ovate, ± equal, not withering in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse; stamens ± equaling tepals; anthers white to light yellow; pollen white; ovary crestless; style included, linear, shorter than stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 10–20 mm. Seed coat shining; cells smooth.
Distribution
e North America.
Discussion
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Selected References
Key
| 1 | Bulbs mostly 4–6 cm; leaf blades (3–)5–9 cm wide; spathe bracts 2–3 cm; umbel (15–)30–50-flowered. | Allium tricoccum var. tricoccum |
| 1 | Bulbs 2–4(–5) cm; leaf blades (1.5–)2–4(–4.5) cm wide; spathe bracts 1–2 cm; umbel (6–)12–18 (–24)-flowered. | Allium tricoccum var. burdickii |