Allium denticulatum
toothed onion
Family AmaryllidaceaeAlso called toothed wild onion
About
Allium denticulatum is a wild onion of southern California whose tepals are toothed at the tips, an unusual trait in the genus.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Allium species are toxic to cats and dogs; eating large amounts can cause hemolytic anemia, and cats are most sensitive. General guidance for the genus
- People
- Low toxicity; eating large quantities may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. General guidance for the genus
- Light
- Full sun to light shade. General guidance for the genus
- Water
- Avoid overly damp ground; wet conditions invite bulb rot and other fungal problems. General guidance for the genus
- Soil
- Fertile, loose, well-drained soil; sand or loam both suit. General guidance for the genus
- Propagation
- Divide bulb offsets in spring; seed is slower and may take years to germinate. General guidance for the genus
- Mature size
- Stem up to 18 cm tall.
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Morphology
A reddish-brown round to oval bulb just over 1 cm long produces a stem up to 18 cm and a single cylindrical leaf up to twice as long. The umbel holds up to 30 deep pink to purplish flowers with toothed tepal tips.
Distribution & habitat
Endemic to southern California: the western Mojave Desert, Tehachapi Mountains, southern Sierra Nevada and Palomar Mountains, in Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura and San Diego counties.
History & etymology
Some authors treat it as a variety of Allium fimbriatum (var. denticulatum). The name Allium denticulatum Kit. refers to a different species, now Allium carinatum.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- United States
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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