Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Allium macropetalum Rydberg
(Arizona Onion)


Family: Alliaceae, formerly Liliaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Allium deserticola (M.E. Jones) Wooton & Standley

Allium macropetalum is the most common upright dry habitat onion in the Gila National Forest. It has fibrous scales on the bulb, and an umbel of small pink flowers with a purple midvein. Onions are strongly scented, and this one is no exception. The fruit is a crested capsule with two finely punctate black seeds in each cell.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Allium macropetalum, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Little Bear Cyn., May 5, 2007



Allium macropetalum, 1x macro of capsule, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City Range, Little Bear Mtn., Feb. 14, 2009



Allium macropetalum, 2x macro of seeds, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City Range, Little Bear Mtn., Feb. 14, 2009



Allium macropetalum, closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Engineer Canyon, April 2, 2009



Allium macropetalum, closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Mill Canyon Road, May 11, 2010


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