8. Allium Canadense L. Meadow Garlic

Fig. 1249

Allium canadense L. Sp. PI. ri95. 1753.

Bulb ovoid, solitary, usually less than 1' high, the outer coats fibrous-reticulated. Scape terete, 8'-2° tall; leaves basal or nearly so, narrowly linear, flat or flattish above, slightly convex beneath, 1"-1 1/2" wide, usually shorter than the scape; bracts of the umbel 2 or 3, white, broadly ovate, acuminate; flowers usually or often replaced by ovoid bulblets; pedicels, when present, about 1/2" long; flowers pink or white, the perianth-segments oblong-lanceolate, acute, about as long as the stamens; filaments widened at the base, none of them toothed; capsule valves not crested.

In moist meadows and thickets, New Brunswick to Minnesota, south to Florida. Louisiana, Texas and Colorado. Ascends to 2500 ft. in Virginia. Wild garlic. May-June.

9. Allium Mutabile Michx. Wild Onion

Fig. 1250

Allium mutabile Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 1: 195. 1803.

Bulbs ovoid, solitary or several together, 1' high or less, their coats prominently fibrous-reticulated. Scape terete, 1°-2° tall; leaves basal, channeled, 1"-2" wide, shorter than the scape; bracts of the umbel 2 or 3, long-acuminate; umbel erect, many-flowered, rarely bulblet-bearing; pedicels filiform, 8"-12" long; flowers pink, rose or white, 2 1/2"-4" long; perianth-segments lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acute, acuminate, or obtusish, thin, longer than the stamens; filaments somewhat widened below; capsule rather shorter than the perianth, its valves not crested.

In moist soil, North Carolina to Missouri, Nebraska, south to Florida and Texas. April-June.

10. Allium Nuttallii S. Wats. Nuttall's Wild Onion

Fig. 1251

Allium Nuttallii S. Wats. Proc. Am. Acad. 14: 227. 1879. Allium Helleri Small, Fl. SE. U. S. 264. 1903.

Bulbs usually solitary, ovoid, 1/2-1' high, their coats fibrous-reticulated. Culm slender, terete or nearly so, 4'-8' tall; leaves basal, 1/2"-1" wide, shorter than the scape or sometimes equalling it; bracts of the umbel 3 or 2, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate; umbel several-flowered; no bulblets seen; pedicels slender, 4"-6" long; flowers rose or white, about 3" long; perianth-segments ovate, acute or acuminate, firm, becoming rigid in fruit; stamens shorter than the perianth; capsule shorter than the perianth, its valves not crested.

On prairies. South Dakota to Colorado, Texas and Arizona. April-June.

11. Allium Reticulatum Don. Fraser's Wild Onion

Fig. 1252

Allium reticulatum Nutt. Fraser's Cat. Name only. 1813.

Allium reticulatum Don, Mem. Wern. Soc. 6: 36. 1826-31.

Similar to the preceding species, the bulb rather larger, its coats prominently fibrous-reticulated. Scape 3'-10' tall, slender; leaves usually less than 1" wide; bracts of the several-flowered umbel mostly 2, acuminate; pedicels slender, 3"-6" long; flowers white or pink, 2 1/2"-3" long; perianth-segments longer than the stamens, thin; capsule shorter than the perianth, each of its valves bearing 2 short crests just below the summit.

Saskatchewan to South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico and Arizona. May-July.