Cascade onion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cascade onion |
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The Cascade onion, also known as Allium cratericola, is a type of wild onion. This plant is special because it grows only in California. It is an uncommon plant found in several of California's mountain areas.
You can find it in the northern and southern California Coast Ranges. It also grows in the western Transverse Ranges and the Klamath Mountains. The plant is also seen in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Its home stretches across much of California, from Riverside County all the way to Siskiyou County.
What Does the Cascade Onion Look Like?
The Cascade onion grows from a brown, oval-shaped bulb. This bulb is like a small underground storage unit for the plant.
From this bulb, a short stem grows. This stem can reach up to 10 centimetres (4 in) tall. The plant usually has one or two long, pointed leaves. These leaves can be up to four times longer than the stem itself!
The Flowers of the Cascade Onion
The flowers of the Cascade onion grow in a cluster called an umbel. This umbel can hold up to 20 flowers packed closely together.
Each flower is shaped like a bell. They can be up to 15 mm (5⁄8 in) wide. The flower's petals, called tepals, can be white, pink, or purplish. Each tepal has a dark purple-brown line running down its middle.
Inside the flowers, you will see yellow anthers. These anthers hold the yellow pollen, which is important for the plant to make seeds.
