Toothed wild onion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toothed wild onion |
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Allium fimbriatum var. denticulatum Ownbey & Aase ex Traub |
The Allium denticulatum is a type of wild onion. People often call it the toothed wild onion. This plant is special because it only grows in southern California. You can find it in the western Mojave Desert, the nearby Tehachapi Mountains, the southern Sierra Nevada, and the Palomar Mountains. It has been seen in several counties, including Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, and San Diego Counties.
What the Toothed Wild Onion Looks Like
The toothed wild onion grows from a small, round or oval-shaped bulb. This bulb is reddish-brown and is just over one centimeter long. From this bulb, a stem grows up to 18 centimeters (about 7 inches) tall. The plant also has a single leaf that is shaped like a cylinder. This leaf can be twice as long as the stem.
At the top of the stem, you'll find a cluster of flowers. This cluster is called an inflorescence. It can hold up to 30 flowers! These flowers are a beautiful deep pink to purplish color. What makes them unique is that their tepals (which are like petals) have tiny teeth at their tips. This is quite unusual for plants in the Allium family.
How Scientists Classify This Plant
Sometimes, scientists group plants in different ways. Some experts believe that Allium denticulatum is a separate species. Others think it's a type of Allium fimbriatum, calling it A. fimbriatum var. denticulatum. It's like saying it's a special version of another plant.
It's also interesting to know that there was another plant once called Allium denticulatum by a scientist named Kit. But that name now refers to a completely different plant, Allium carinatum. This shows how plant names can sometimes change as scientists learn more!
See also
In Spanish: Allium fimbriatum var. denticulatum para niños
