Simil Onion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allium simillimum |
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| Allium simillimum in southwest Idaho | |
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The Allium simillimum, also known as the Simil Onion or dwarf onion, is a small plant. It is a type of wild onion. This plant is naturally found in parts of Idaho and Montana. Specifically, you can find it in Gallatin and Ravalli Counties in Montana.
About the Simil Onion
The Simil Onion is a unique plant because of where and how it grows. It prefers to live in sandy soils. You will find it in high places in the mountains. These areas are usually between 1,800 and 3,400 meters (about 5,900 to 11,150 feet) above sea level. This makes it a mountain plant.
What Does It Look Like?
The Simil Onion has a few interesting features. It grows from a special underground part called a bulb.
The Bulb
The bulb of the Simil Onion is shaped like an egg. It can grow up to 1.7 centimeters (about 0.7 inches) long. This bulb helps the plant store food and water. It is similar to the onion bulbs we eat, but much smaller.
The Stalk and Flowers
The plant produces thin stems called flowering stalks. These stalks are usually very short. They are rarely taller than 5 centimeters (about 2 inches).
At the top of these short stalks, you will find bell-shaped flowers. Each flower can be up to 10 millimeters (about 0.4 inches) wide. The flowers have white outer parts called tepals. These tepals often have green or pink lines down their middle. Inside the flowers, there are purple anthers. Anthers are the parts that hold the pollen. The pollen itself can be white or gray.
