Tapertip onion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tapertip onion |
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The tapertip onion (scientific name: Allium acuminatum) is a type of wild onion. It is also sometimes called Hooker's onion. This plant is native to North America.
Where It Grows
You can find the tapertip onion in the western parts of the United States and Canada. It grows in every state west of the Rocky Mountains. It is also found in British Columbia, Canada.
What It Looks Like
The tapertip onion grows bulbs that are round. These bulbs are usually less than 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) wide. They smell just like regular onions!
The plant has a tall stem, called a scape. This stem can grow up to 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall. At the top of the stem, there is a cluster of flowers. This cluster is called an umbel. It can have as many as 40 flowers. The flowers are usually pink or purple. They have yellow parts inside called anthers.
How People Use It
Long ago, the First Nations people in southern British Columbia ate these onions. They would gather the onions in early spring or late fall. Often, they cooked them in special pits in the ground.
Both the bulb and the flowering stem of the plant can be eaten. However, many people think the stem tastes better than the bulb when cooked.
