Columbian onion, facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Columbian onion
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily:	Allioideae
Genus:	Allium
Species:	A. columbianum
Binomial name
Allium columbianum (F.M.Ownbey & L.V.Mingrone) P. M. Peterson, Annable & L.H. Rieseberg
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Synonyms
Allium douglasii var. columbianum F.M.Ownbey & L.V.Mingrone

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The Columbian onion (scientific name: Allium columbianum) is a wild plant that belongs to the onion family. It's a type of onion that grows naturally in certain parts of the northwestern United States. Even though it's called an "onion," it's usually known for its pretty flowers rather than for eating like the onions you find in a grocery store.

Meet the Columbian Onion

The Columbian onion is a unique plant. Its scientific name, Allium columbianum, helps scientists around the world know exactly which plant they are talking about. This plant is a close relative to the onions, garlic, and chives that many people use in cooking.

Where Does It Grow?

This special onion grows in specific areas of the United States. You can find it in the eastern part of Washington state. It's also common in northern Idaho. Sometimes, it even grows in the Bitterroot Mountains, which are located in western Montana.

The Columbian onion likes to grow in certain types of soil. It prefers shallow, wet ground. You can usually find it in areas that are between 300 and 1100 meters (about 980 to 3600 feet) above sea level. This means it often grows in hilly or mountainous regions where the soil stays moist.

What Does It Look Like?

The Columbian onion has a few interesting features.

• Bulbs: It grows egg-shaped bulbs underground. These bulbs can be up to 15 millimeters (about half an inch) long.
• Flowers: The flowers are quite pretty. They can be up to 10 millimeters (about 0.4 inches) across. Their color ranges from pink to a light purple. Each flower also has a green stripe down the middle of its petals.
• Anthers and Pollen: Inside the flowers, the parts that hold pollen (called anthers) and the pollen itself can be blue or gray. This gives the flowers an interesting look up close.