Parish's Onion

Bulbs 1–2, not clustered on primary rhizome, without stalked basal increase bulbs, ovoid, 1–1.5 × 0.8–1.3 cm; outer coats enclosing bulbs, brown to reddish brown, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers; inner coats pinkish to reddish brown, cells obscure, ± rectangular, vertically elongate. Leaves persistent, withering from tip by anthesis, 1, basally sheathing, sheath not extending much above soil level; blade solid, terete, 5–30 cm × 1–3 mm. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 5–25 cm × 1–3 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, compact, 6–15-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 5–7-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers narrowly campanulate, 12–18 mm; tepals erect, spreading at tips, pale pink with darker midveins, lanceolate to lance-linear, ± equal, inner slightly shorter and narrower than outer, margins entire, apex acute, becoming rigid in fruit; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crested; processes 6, prominent, ± triangular, margins entire to irregularly denticulate; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, minutely 3-lobed, lobes stout, ± spreading; pedicel 5–15 mm. Seed coat dull or shining; cells minutely roughened. 2n = 14.

Ariz., Calif.

Flowering Apr--May.

Rocky, sandy desert slopes; 900--1400m.

Allium parishii is an uncommon species of wild onion known by the common name Parish's onion. It is native to the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Deserts of California (San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego Counties) and Arizona (Yuma and Mohave Counties). It grows on open dry, rocky slopes at elevations of 900–1,400 m (3,000–4,600 ft).

Allium parishii grows from a reddish-brown bulb just over a centimeter long and produces a scape up to about 25 centimeters tall. There is a single cylindrical leaf which is generally longer than the stem. The umbel contains up to 25 dark-veined pale pink flowers with narrow tepals between one and two centimeters long. Anthers and pollen are yellow.