Olympic onion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Olympic onion |
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The Olympic onion (scientific name: Allium crenulatum) is a type of wild onion plant. It grows naturally in parts of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia in North America.
This plant is found in mountain areas like the Cascades, the Coast Ranges, the Olympic Mountains, the Wenatchee Mountains, and the mountains on Vancouver Island. It likes to grow on rocky slopes (called talus slopes) and in high, cold areas above the tree line (known as alpine tundra). You can find it at elevations from about 600 to 2500 meters high.
About the Olympic Onion
The Olympic onion is a small, interesting plant that is part of the onion family. It's known for its pretty pink flowers and its ability to grow in tough mountain environments.
What it Looks Like
The Olympic onion grows from small, roundish bulbs that are about 2 centimeters long. These bulbs can grow on underground stems called rhizomes, which means new plants can pop up a little distance from the main plant.
Its leaves are flat and can grow up to 35 centimeters long. Sometimes, they have tiny teeth along their edges. The flower stalk, called a scape, is flat and has small wings. It can grow up to 15 centimeters tall.
Its Flowers
The flowers of the Olympic onion grow in a tight cluster called an Umbel. Each cluster can have up to 25 flowers. The flowers are shaped like small bells and can be up to 13 millimeters wide. They are usually pink with darker pink lines running down the middle of their petals (which are called tepals in onions). The parts that hold the pollen (called anthers) can be yellow or purple, and the pollen itself is yellow.
