Autumn onion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Autumn onion |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Allium
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| Species: |
stellatum
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The autumn onion or prairie onion (scientific name: Allium stellatum) is a type of wild onion. You can find it growing naturally in central Canada and the central United States. It grows from Ontario and Saskatchewan in the north, all the way south to Tennessee and Texas.
About the Autumn Onion
The autumn onion is a plant that comes back year after year. It grows from a round, underground part called a bulb. This plant likes to grow in rocky or sandy soil.
What It Looks Like
The autumn onion has a tall flower stalk, called a scape, that can grow up to 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) tall. It has groups of leaves that are thick and hard. These leaves are rounded on the back.
As the pink or purple flowers start to grow in early August, the leaves of the plant die back. The flowers grow in a special cluster called an umbel. This looks like a small umbrella or a starburst.
Is It Edible?
Yes, the bulbs of the autumn onion can be eaten. They have a strong flavor, much like other onions you might know.
Its Name
The scientific name stellatum comes from botanical Latin. It means "starry." This name refers to how the flowers grow in a star-like cluster, or umbel. A scientist named John Bellenden Ker Gawler first described this plant for science in 1813.
Images for kids
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An illustration of the autumn onion from 1913.
