New Mexico wild leek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Mexico wild leek |
|
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Allium
|
| Species: |
bigelovii
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The New Mexico wild leek, also known by its scientific name Allium bigelovii, is a special type of plant that grows in the southwestern United States. You can find it mainly in Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. This plant loves to grow on open, rocky hillsides, usually at high places between 500 and 1700 meters (about 1,640 to 5,577 feet) above sea level.
What is the New Mexico Wild Leek?
The New Mexico wild leek is a member of the Allium family. This family includes many plants you might know, like onions, garlic, and chives! Just like its famous relatives, the wild leek has a bulb underground.
What Does It Look Like?
This plant has a round, onion-like bulb that is about 15 millimeters (or about half an inch) wide. From this bulb, long, thin leaves grow, reaching up to 25 centimeters (about 10 inches) in length.
When it blooms, the New Mexico wild leek produces pretty, bell-shaped flowers. Each flower is about 15 millimeters (half an inch) long. The petals, which are called tepals in this type of plant, are usually white. They often have lovely pink tips and a clear red line running down the middle.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The scientific name, Allium bigelovii, honors a person named John Milton Bigelow. He was an American botanist and surgeon. The "bigelovii" part of the name comes from a Latin version of his last name, "Bigelovius." Scientists often name new plants or animals after the people who discovered them or helped study them.
