Fragile onion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fragile onion |
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Allium fragile A.Nelson |
The Allium scilloides, also known as the fragile onion, is a special plant that grows only in the US State of Washington. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific place, we say it is endemic to that area. This unique onion has been seen in just four counties in eastern Washington: Klickitat, Kittitas, Yakima, and Grant. It likes to grow on dry, rocky hillsides, high up in the mountains, between 300 and 1300 meters (about 980 to 4265 feet) above sea level. Sometimes, people even grow the fragile onion in their gardens because it's quite pretty!
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Meet the Fragile Onion
The fragile onion might not be what you think of when you hear "onion." It's a wild plant with delicate features. Its scientific name, Allium scilloides, helps scientists all over the world know exactly which plant they are talking about.
What Does It Look Like?
The fragile onion grows from small, round or egg-shaped bulbs. These bulbs are like tiny storage containers for the plant. Each bulb can be up to 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) wide. These bulbs grow along an underground stem called a rhizome. Think of a rhizome as a horizontal root that helps the plant spread out.
Its Flowers
The flowers of the fragile onion are shaped like tiny bells. Each flower is about 7 millimeters (about 0.3 inches) wide. They have special petals called tepals, which can be white, pink, or purplish. Each tepal has a green stripe down its middle. Inside the flowers, you'll find purple anthers, which are part of the plant's reproductive system. The pollen, which is like fine dust that helps plants make seeds, can be white or gray.
Where Does It Live?
The fragile onion prefers tough places to grow. It thrives on barren, gravelly slopes. These are areas with lots of small stones and not much soil. The plant is very good at living in dry conditions. Its ability to grow in such specific and sometimes harsh environments makes it a fascinating part of Washington's natural plant life.
Images for kids
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Allium scilloides growing on dry basalt flats, Douglas County Washington
