Unknown allium

Submitted by Lori S. on Sun, 07/18/2010 - 22:31

Yet another! I seem to have had an amazing lapse in recording what I planted a couple of years ago.
But, boy, did I come to the right place! ;D

Large-ish pale pink flowers; the foliage is starting to get old. I'll add photos of it, if needed.

Many thanks, in advance!

Comments


Submitted by Mark McD on Mon, 07/19/2010 - 08:32

Looks like the Californian Allium hyalinum.  Are the tepals glossy at the center?  Typically the flowers are near white with just a hint of pink, although there are pinker forms too.  The species is found throughout much of California, southern forms closer to Mexico are possibly not as hardy as more northerly forms; I have not been able to keep it long here.

CalPhotos link:
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where...


Submitted by Lori S. on Mon, 07/19/2010 - 19:16

The tepals do seem to have a shiny, almost iridescent effect - this isn't something I've looked for on other onions so I should do some comparison to make sure I'm not being influenced just by the power of suggestion.  ;)
Older tepals do seem to become translucent, which is a characteristic that was noted on some web entry.

Thanks, again, Mark!


Submitted by Mark McD on Mon, 07/19/2010 - 20:58

Skulski wrote:

The tepals do seem to have a shiny, almost iridescent effect - this isn't something I've looked for on other onions so I should do some comparison to make sure I'm not being influenced just by the power of suggestion.  ;)
Older tepals do seem to become translucent, which is a characteristic that was noted on some web entry.

Thanks, again, Mark!

Several western alliums have this effect, where the tepals are shiny near the base, you can see it in this CalPhoto, where it looks wet and shiny near the base of the tepal.
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0110+1940

Others that display this is A. praecox (allied to A. hyalinum) and some forms of A. amplectans, possibly some others.