Small onion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Small onion |
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| Allium parvum | |
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The Allium parvum, also known as the small onion, is a type of wild onion found in America. It grows naturally in the western parts of the United States.
You can often find this plant in rocky, dry areas in the mountains. It especially likes rocky slopes, growing at high elevations from about 1,200 to 2,800 meters (around 3,900 to 9,200 feet) above sea level.
This small onion is common in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho. It has also been found in western Utah and a small part of southwestern Montana.
What it Looks Like
The Allium parvum grows from a small bulb. This bulb is usually about 1 to 2.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1 inch) wide.
The plant has a flower stalk, called a scape, which is quite short for an onion. It rarely grows taller than 12 centimeters (about 5 inches). It also has two leaves that are shaped like a sickle.
At the top of the stem, there is a cluster of fewer than 30 flowers. These flowers are usually light pink. They often have noticeable dark lines running down the middle of each petal. The parts that hold pollen (called anthers) can be purple or yellow, and the pollen itself is yellow.
Uses
The Paiute people, a Native American tribe, used this plant. They used the small onion as a food source and to add flavor to their meals.
