Allium platyspathum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allium platyspathum |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Allium
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| Species: |
platyspathum
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| Synonyms | |
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Allium platyspathum is a type of wild onion that grows in Asia. You can find it in many countries like Xinjiang (a region in China), Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. This plant likes to grow in damp places, usually high up in the mountains, between 1900 and 3700 meters (about 6,200 to 12,100 feet) above sea level.
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About This Wild Onion
This wild onion usually grows from a single, egg-shaped bulb. The bulb can be up to 20 millimeters (about 0.8 inches) wide.
Plant Parts
- Scape: The scape is the main stem of the plant. It can grow very tall, up to 100 centimeters (about 39 inches).
- Leaves: The leaves are flat and long, like straps. They can be up to 20 millimeters (about 0.8 inches) wide. They are usually about the same length as the scape.
- Flowers: The flowers grow in a tight bunch called an umbel. They are often pink or lilac in color.
Different Types of Allium platyspathum
Scientists have found a few different types, or "subspecies," of Allium platyspathum. They are slightly different in how they look or where they grow.
- Allium platyspathum subsp. amblyophyllum
- This type has a taller stem, usually 40 to 100 centimeters (16 to 39 inches) long.
- Its flowers are pink.
- The leaves are wider, about 10 to 20 millimeters (0.4 to 0.8 inches) across.
- You can find it in places like Xinjiang, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Altay Krai.
- Allium platyspathum subsp. platyspathum
- This type has a shorter stem, up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) long.
- Its flowers are lilac (a light purple color).
- The leaves are narrower, less than 8 millimeters (0.3 inches) wide.
- It grows in many of the same places, including Xinjiang, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Altay Krai, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan.
What Was Once Included
Sometimes, scientists change how they classify plants. For example, a plant once called Allium platyspathum var. falcatum is now known as a different species entirely. It is now called Allium carolinianum.
