Plains onion facts for kids
The Plains onion, also known by its scientific name Allium perdulce, is a type of plant that grows naturally in the central parts of the United States. People sometimes plant it in their gardens because its flowers are quite beautiful. You can find this special onion growing in states like Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. It even grows in one specific area of western Iowa, called Woodbury County.
What Does the Plains Onion Look Like?
The Plains onion grows from bulbs that are underground. Each plant can have anywhere from 2 to 20 bulbs. These bulbs are usually about 3 centimeters (or 1.2 inches) wide.
The flowers of the Plains onion are very interesting. They are shaped like small urns, which means they are wider at the bottom and narrow at the top. Each flower is about 10 millimeters (or 0.4 inches) across. Most of the time, the flower petals, called tepals, are a deep rose or purple color. However, there is a special type of Plains onion that has different colored flowers! The pollen inside the flowers is usually yellow.
Different Kinds of Plains Onion
Just like there can be different types of apples, there are also different types, or varieties, of the Plains onion. Scientists recognize two main varieties of this plant:
- Allium perdulce var. perdulce
- Allium perdulce var. sperryi
The Sperryi Variety
The sperryi variety is a special kind of Plains onion that has a different flower color. It is only found in a specific area of western Texas, known as the trans-Pecos region. Unlike the more common deep rose or purple flowers, the sperryi variety has flowers that are white or a very pale pink. This makes it unique and easy to tell apart from the other Plains onions.
