Allium falcifolium
scytheleaf onion
Family AmaryllidaceaeAlso called coast flatstem onion
About
Allium falcifolium, the scytheleaf onion, is a low wild onion of northern California and southern Oregon named for its curved, blade-like leaves.
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
- Heavy, rocky soils, often serpentine, in the wild.
- Propagation
- Divide bulb offsets in spring; seed is slower and may take years to germinate. General guidance for the genus
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Morphology
A reddish-brown bulb 1–2 cm wide produces a short, flattened stem, thick in the centre and thin at the edges, and usually two scythe-shaped leaves. The umbel carries 10–30 flowers 1–1.5 cm wide, pinkish, red-purple or white-streaked purple.
Distribution & habitat
Northern California and southern Oregon, in heavy rocky soils, especially serpentine.
History & etymology
The name A. falcifolium var. demissum, coined in 1921, now refers to Allium siskiyouense.
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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