Allium sharsmithiae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allium sharsmithiae |
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| SynonymsTropicos, Allium fimbriatum var. sharsmithiae Ownbey & Aase ex Traub | |
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Allium sharsmithiae, also known as the Mount Hamilton onion or Helen Sharsmith's onion, is a very rare type of wild onion. It grows only in a small area of California. This special plant is found on serpentine soils near Mount Hamilton. This area is part of the Diablo Range, located south of San Francisco Bay. You can find it in Santa Clara, Alameda, and Stanislaus Counties.
What Does It Look Like?
Allium sharsmithiae grows from round or egg-shaped bulbs. These bulbs can be up to 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) wide.
Stems and Flowers
The plant has a flowering stalk that stands up to 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall. This stalk is solid and round. The flowers are shaped like small pots or urns. Each flower can be up to 2 centimeters wide. They have a deep reddish-purple color. Inside the flowers, the anthers (which hold pollen) and the pollen itself are yellow.
