Unknown allium

Submitted by Broekhuis on Thu, 12/27/2012 - 09:12

Got this one from the 2010/2011 seed exchange as 'Allium platycaule' - but it's not that. I'm afraid I didn't take very good close-up photos of the flowers, but the photos I did take are up at http://www.robsplants.com/plants/AlliuRGN . Any suggestions would be welcome.

Comments


Submitted by Mark McD on Thu, 12/27/2012 - 09:26

Hi Rob, that plant is almost certainly Allium strictum (synonym A. lineare). This species can be considered the "type" for a group of rather similar species.

One species that it is closely related is Allium splendens (nothing very splendent about it), the true A. splendens is almost never seen (although it is in cultivation), almost everything in cultivation under the name "splendens" is some other species.  If one does a google image search on Allium splendens, you'll see about 30 different allium species, so don't even bother looking :(.  If you do a google image search on Allium strictum, you'll get a higher percentage of correct images, although some misnomers as well, alliums are terribly mixed up in horticulture.


Submitted by Mark McD on Thu, 12/27/2012 - 09:51

Without seeing closer hand details, there is also a possibility the plant shown in the link is Allium hymenorrhizum, an most variable species.  The emerging foliage of this one is a strong indicator of the species, with strongly falcate initial leaf emergence... later the leaves are more normal looking and strap like


Submitted by Broekhuis on Thu, 12/27/2012 - 11:17

Allium strictum looks like a good fit - thanks. It's always good to set things right in the garden.
I just now saw your second follow-up - I'll have to pay attention to the foliage when it emerges this spring; I don't remember it being falcate, but I may not have been looking closely enough.


Submitted by Steve Newall on Thu, 12/27/2012 - 11:27

Mark - Would you be able to help me out with an ID on this Allium found high up on Fiddler's Peak in the Siskiyous . Thanks


Submitted by Mark McD on Thu, 12/27/2012 - 18:33

Jandals, your Allium is most likely A. falcifolium, frequent in the Siskiyou Mountains, one of the many desirable dwarf western American alliums.  It ranges from white, to light pink, to deep purplish-rose; the one you show is a very fine form indeed.  The strongly falcate foliage is characteristic of the species, but your subject plant it is so covered with flowers we can't see the foliage. Googling, I could not find a Fiddler's Peak, but did find a Fiddler Mountain, Oregon.


Submitted by Steve Newall on Thu, 12/27/2012 - 22:24

Thanks again Mark . That's all my USA stuff named now . Fiddler Mountain near Cave Junction OR is where I saw it


Submitted by Toole on Sat, 03/23/2013 - 16:16

Mark and others

Any idea on the name of this tiny autumn white flowering Allium.

Unseasonal 25c here yesterday and some of the flowers opened --i can take a pic if that helps .
Thanks.

Cheers Dave.


Submitted by Mark McD on Sat, 03/23/2013 - 20:10

Toole wrote:

Mark and others

Any idea on the name of this tiny autumn white flowering Allium.

Unseasonal 25c here yesterday and some of the flowers opened --i can take a pic if that helps .
Thanks.

Cheers Dave.

I believe this is Allium togashii (published as A. togasii in Ohwi's Flora of Japan).  While giving the impression of being white-flowered, in the forms I have grown I find this species typically has flowers with a pinksih tinge.  Please show us a photo when the flowers open.  By the way, this is a very good well-behaved late summer or early autumn species, one of my favorites, a good one for the rock garden.


Submitted by Toole on Sat, 03/23/2013 - 20:16

Thanks a lot Mark

Will do so when there is more of a display in a few days.

Cheers Dave.


Submitted by Toole on Sun, 03/31/2013 - 00:12

McDonough wrote:

I believe this is Allium togashii (published as A. togasii in Ohwi's Flora of Japan).  While giving the impression of being white-flowered, in the forms I have grown I find this species typically has flowers with a pinksih tinge.  Please show us a photo when the flowers open.  By the way, this is a very good well-behaved late summer or early autumn species, one of my favorites, a good one for the rock garden.

Mark
Here's the Allium a few days on.No sign of any pink ...yet.

Cheers Dave.


Submitted by Mark McD on Sun, 03/31/2013 - 08:44

Toole wrote:

Mark
Here's the Allium a few days on.No sign of any pink ...yet.

Cheers Dave.

Oh, now that the buds have expanded, what you have here is a nice white form of Allium virgunculae, which is even more choice than A. togashii.


Submitted by Toole on Sun, 03/31/2013 - 14:44

McDonough wrote:

Allium virgunculae[/color], which is even more choice than A. togashii.

Rightio Mark thanks .
I'll put a label on it and let the supplier of the plant know it's name.

Cheers Dave.