| Flat-stem onion | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Allioideae |
| Genus: | Allium |
| Species: | A. platycaule |
| Binomial name | |
| Allium platycaule | |
Allium platycaule is aspecies ofwild onion known asbroadstemmed onion orflat-stem onion. It is native to northeasternCalifornia, south-centralOregon (Lake County) and northwesternNevada (Washoe andHumboldt Counties). It is found on slopes of elevations of 1500–2500 m.[1]
Allium platycaule grows from a graybulb 2 to 3 cm (3⁄4 to1+1⁄4 in) wide. Scape is thin and strongly flattened, up to25 cm (9+3⁄4 in) long but rarely more than7 mm (1⁄4 in) across. It may be thicker along the midrib and much narrower along the sides. The long, flat leaves aresickle-shaped. Atop the stem is anumbel which may have as many as 90 flowers in it. Each flower may be up to a centimeter and a half wide but thetepals are quite narrow so as to be almost threadlike. The inflorescence therefore may appear be a dense ball of filaments. The flowers are generally bright pink to magenta with yellow anthers.[2][3][4][5]
The leaves, bulbs, and seeds were utilized as food by theNorthern Paiute people.[6]
