Fringed Onion

Bulbs 1–3, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, ovoid to ± globose, 1–1.7 × 0.8–1.7 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, reddish brown, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows proximal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers; inner coats pale brown to white, cells obscure, quadrate. Leaves persistent, withering from tip by anthesis, 1, basally sheathing, sheath not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, terete, 12–50 cm × 1–4 mm. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 10–35 cm × 0.5–3.5 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, compact, 6–75-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 4–7-veined, lanceolate to ovate, ± equal, apex attenuate to setaceous. Flowers urceolate to campanulate, 6–12 mm; tepals erect, dark reddish purple to pale lavender, or white, lanceolate to ovate, ± equal, becoming ± rigid to papery in fruit, margins entire or denticulate with few minute teeth near tip, apex acute to acuminate, recurved-spreading or not at tip; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary usually crested (rarely crestless); processes 6, prominent, ± triangular, margins denticulate to laciniate; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, 3-lobed, lobes slender, recurved; pedicel 6–20 mm. Seed coat dull; cells minutely roughened.

Allium fimbriatum is found in California and northern Baja California at elevations ranging from 300 to 2700 meters. The bioregional distribution within California includes the southern part of the North Coast Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada Foothills, Tehachapi Mountains, central Western California, southwestern California, eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada and desert regions.

Allium fimbriatum is a species of wild onion known by the common name fringed onion. It is native to California and Baja California.

The fringed onion grows from a reddish-brown bulb one to two centimeters wide and sends up a naked brown or green stem. Atop the stem is an inflorescence of up to 75 flowers, each just under a centimeter wide on average. The flowers are variable in color, from pink to purple and often with white areas. The tepals are also variable in shape, from narrow and pointy to spade-shaped.

Varieties

Numerous names have been proposed for subspecies and varieties, most of them now regarded as distinct species. The following are accepted by the World Checklist.

Allium fimbriatum var. denticulatum Ownbey & Aase ex Traub Allium fimbriatum var. fimbriatum Allium fimbriatum var. mohavense Jeps. Allium fimbriatum var. purdyi (Eastw.) Ownbey ex McNeal