Blue Mountain onion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue Mountain onion |
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The Blue Mountain onion (Allium dictuon) is a type of wild onion. It grows in a special area called the Blue Mountains. These mountains are found in parts of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon in the United States.
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About the Blue Mountain Onion
The Blue Mountain onion is a unique plant. It is known by its scientific name, Allium dictuon. This plant is a wild relative of the onions we eat.
Where It Lives
This onion lives in a small part of the Blue Mountains. This area is on the border between southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. You can find it in Columbia, Garfield, and Walla Walla Counties in Washington. It also grows in Umatilla and Wallowa Counties in Oregon.
What It Looks Like
The Blue Mountain onion grows from bulbs. These bulbs are connected underground by special stems called rhizomes. Each plant usually has two or three leaves. These leaves can grow up to 28 centimeters (about 11 inches) long.
A tall stem, called a scape, grows from the plant. This stem can be 20 to 40 centimeters (about 8 to 16 inches) tall. At the top of the scape, there is a cluster of flowers called an umbel. This umbel can have up to 25 flowers. The flowers are bell-shaped and are bright pink or purplish. Each flower is about 1.1 to 1.6 centimeters (about half an inch) long. The Blue Mountain onion blooms in June and July.
Its Home Environment
Allium dictuon likes to grow in dry, open, and rocky places. The plants that mostly grow in these areas include a type of grass. This grass is called bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata ssp. spicata).
How Many Are There?
Scientists have estimated how many Blue Mountain onions there are. The total number of these plants is thought to be between 200 and 500. This small number means it's an important plant to protect.
