Allium tulipifolium facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Лук тюльпанолистный 郁金叶蒜 yu jin ye suan
Scientific classification
Genus:	Allium
Species:	tulipifolium
Synonyms
Synonymy Allium lallemantii Regel & Rach Allium subalpinum Pall. ex Kunth Allium tulipifolium var. brachystemon Regel Allium tulipifolium var. subscabrum Regel

Allium tulipifolium is a type of wild onion. It grows naturally in parts of Asia. You can find it in Xinjiang (China), Kazakhstan, and Altay Krai (Russia). This plant often grows in places that are 600 to 1000 meters high.

Meet the Tulip-Leaf Onion

The Allium tulipifolium is a fascinating plant. It is part of the onion family. But it's not the kind of onion you usually eat! This plant has some unique features.

What Does It Look Like?

This wild onion grows from a special underground part. It has round or egg-shaped bulbs. These bulbs can be up to 20 millimeters wide. That's about the size of a small marble!

A single stem, called a scape, grows from the bulb. This scape can reach up to 40 centimeters tall. It is round, like a pencil. The leaves of the plant are flat and waxy. They can be up to 2 centimeters wide. These leaves are much shorter than the main stem. They often have a pretty pink or dark green edge.

At the top of the scape, many flowers grow together. This cluster of flowers is called an Umbel. The flowers have white petals. Each petal has a dark green or purple line down its middle.

Where Does It Grow?

Allium tulipifolium likes to grow in certain areas of Asia. It is native to the region of Xinjiang in China. It also grows in the country of Kazakhstan. You can find it in Altay Krai, which is a part of Russia. This plant prefers to live in higher places. It is usually found at elevations between 600 and 1000 meters.