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Allium munzii

(Munz´s Onion)

Overview

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Critically Endangered
Threat status

Common Names

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Common Names in English:

Munz´s Onion, Munz's Onion, Munzs Onion

Description

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Genus Allium

Herbs, perennial , scapose , from tunicate bulbs, with onion odor and taste. Bulbs solitary or clustered, dividing at base , or on rhizomes, reforming annually; outer coats generally brown or gray, smooth , fibrous , or with cellular reticulation (generally important in identification) ; inner coats membranous. Leaves generally withering from tip by anthesis , usually persistent , 1-12, basal; blade usually linear , terete , channeled , or flat (carinate in A. sativum, A. praecox, A. tuberosum, A. rotundum, A. neapolitanum, A. triquetrum, A. unifolium, and A. lacunosum), straight or ± falcate (coiled or circinate in A. nevadense and A. atrorubens), broader in A. victorialis and A. tricoccum, not petiolate (except in A. tricoccum and A. victorialis) . Scape usually persistent, terete or flattened. Inflorescences umbellate , flowering centripetally (centrifugally in A. schoenoprasum), sometimes replaced totally or partially by bulbils, subtended by spathe bracts; bracts conspicuous , ± fused, usually 3+-veined, equaling pedicel except in some introduced species , membranous. Flowers erect (pendent in A. triquetrum) ; tepals 6, in 2 similar whorls, ± distinct , petallike, usually becoming becoming dry and persisting; stamens 6, epipetalous ; filaments in all but 1 native species broad at base, fused into ring (some introduced species and A. victorialis appendaged), linear, generally glabrous (A. rotundum and A. hoffmanii papillose to ciliate proximally) ; anthers and pollen variously colored ; ovary superior, 3-lobed, sometimes crested with processes, 3-locular, usually 2 ovules per locule (6-8 in A. nigrum), crest processes 3 or 6, smooth except in A. haematochiton, A. sharsmithiae, and A. lacunosum; style 1; stigma capitate to ± 3-lobed; pedicel erect or spreading (lax in A. triquetrum) . Fruits capsular , dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds black, obovoid , finely cellular-reticulate, cells smooth or minutely roughened, with 1-8 papillae, without caruncle except in A. triquetrum. x = 7, 8, 9.

Species 550-700: mostly Northern Hemisphere.

As with many other genera in the Liliaceae sensu lato, Allium has been segregated into a separate family , Alliaceae , by most recent authors (R. Dahlgren et al. 1985; K . Rahn 1998; A. L. Takhtajan 1997; R. F. Thorne 1992) .Old World species of Allium are generally placed in subgenera and sections . Attempts to treat New World species similarly have gained less acceptance. H. P. Traub (1972) recognized subg. Amerallium, encompassing all of the x = 7 North American members of the genus.

P. Hanelt (1992) placed the Old World x = 7 species also in that subgenus , which includes all but three of the North American species (A. schoenoprasum, A. tricoccum, and A. victorialis), which have x = 8. These latter species have been placed in subg. Rhizirideum (P. Hanelt 1992) . Resolution of the problematic subgeneric and sectional relationships among Old and New World species will require much more extensive molecular and phylogenetic analysis of the genus. The characters used in the construction of the following key are the best that have been discovered for this purpose. Many of these are subject to sometimes rather wide variation . It is anticipated, therefore, that it can be used successfully only with considerable understanding of the natural units involved, their distribution, and comparison with descriptions and accurately named specimens. The Allium bulb consists of a series of leaf bases, some with blades, others without, surrounding an apical meristem. The leaf bases are replaced annually as the meristem forms a new (renewal) bulb. Often the meristem will branch , resulting in two or more bulbs being formed from a single parent bulb (increase bulbs) . In addition several types of rhizomes are formed in Allium. In some cases (e.g. , A. validum) bulbs form atop a thick, iris-like rhizome that produces new bulbs in succeeding years. In other cases (e.g., A. bolanderi, A. campanulatum, and A. unifolium) each bulb produces one or more rhizomes that in turn produce a terminal renewal or increase bulb. There is variation even in this type of rhizome. In some species (e.g., A. bolanderi and A. unifolium) the bulb producing the rhizomes disappears during the development of the rhizomes and new bulbs except for the roots , which remain active until the new bulbs mature and become dormant . In others (e.g., A. campanulatum) the bulb produces a number of very short rhizomes around the roots, each of which develops a very small terminal bulbel. At the same time, the parent bulb remains intact and produces a renewal bulb, or may divide to produce two or more large increase bulbs. As a result, specimens with this type of rhizome will have one or more large bulbs with a number of much smaller bulbels among the roots. The underground parts of Allium are often critical for successful identification, and every effort should always be made to collect them. The dirty brown or gray coats surrounding the bulbs are the only source for the cellular-reticulation patterns referred to in the key. These should be carefully collected and preserved as part of any specimen. Several Old World species (Allium ampeloprasum Linnaeus, A. cepa Linnaeus, A. oleraceum Linnaeus, A. sativum Linnaeus, A. nigrum Linnaeus), grown as foodstuffs or ornamentals , may be encountered and are certainly represented in North American herbaria. For this reason, these species have been included in the key. Some do not reproduce by seeds and probably should not be considered as truly naturalized in our flora , although they may persist for long periods at or near places where they have been planted. Additionally, over 52 species contained in this treatment are considered choice garden plants and are readily available through catalogues and garden centers. Locally, these species and possibly others grown as garden plants may escape and become established . It is inevitable, therefore, that numerous specimens of these escapees will be represented in North American herbaria and may muddy the boundaries of what is regarded to be the natural distribution. We have attempted in all cases to map what we consider to be the natural ranges of these species, based on the specimens examined over the years. Material falling outside these ranges may include these escapees and should be suspect.[1]

Physical Description

Species Allium munzii

Bulbs usually solitary, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, ovoid , 1-1.5 × 0.8-1.4 cm; outer coats enclosing single bulb, reddish brown, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2-3 rows proximal to roots , ± quadrate , without fibers; inner coats pale brown to white or pink, cells obscure , quadrate. Leaves persistent , withering from tip by anthesis , 1, basally sheathing , sheath not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, terete , 15-25 cm × 0.5-1.5 mm. Scape persistent, solitary, erect , solid, terete, 15-35 cm × 1-2.5 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, compact , 10-35-flowered, hemispheric , bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2-3, 5-7-veined, lanceolate to ovate , ± equal, apex abruptly acuminate. Flowers campanulate , 6-8 mm; tepals erect, white with greenish midveins , becoming deep pink to red in fruit, ovate to nearly round, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire to finely denticulate , apex obtuse (rarely acute), shallowly emarginate ; stamens included ; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crested ; processes 6, prominent , ± triangular, margins entire, apex emarginate; style linear , equaling stamens; stigma capitate, 3-lobed, lobes slender, recurved; pedicel spreading , straight, 7-12 mm, becoming rigid and ± reflexed in fruit. Seed coat dull ; cells minutely roughened. 2n = 14. [source]

Habit: Forb/herb

Flowers: Bloom Period: April, May.

Habitat

Clay soil on grassy slopes ; of conservation concern; 400--900 m (Ref. 51501).

Grassy openings in coastal sage scrub , chaparral , juniper woodland, valley and foothill grasslands in clay soils (Boyd 1986; Skinner and Pavlik 1994). Found on mesic exposures or seasonally moist microsites. Associated with a special clay soil flora found in southwestern Riverside County that includes herbs such as chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora), Palmers grappling hook (Harpagonella palmeri), knot-weed spine flower (Chorizanthe polygonoides ssp. longispina), snakeroot (Sanicula bipinnatifida, S. arguta), lomatium (Lomatium utriculatum, L. dasycarpum), shooting stars (Dodecatheon clevelandii), bloomeria (Bloomeria crocea), soaproot (Chlorogalum parviflorum), many-stemmed dudleya (Dudleya multicaulis) and red-skinned onion ( Allium haematochiton) (Boyd 1986; Winter 1992; Roberts 1993; CNDDB 2000). At least one population (Bachelor Mountain) is reported to be associated with pyroxenite outcrops instead of clay (D. Bramlet, in litt., October 1992).

Biology

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Reproduction

Munzs onion blooms from April through May (Munz 1974), producing white or pinkish flowers. The capsules are 3-4 mm long and the seeds are about 2 mm long (Munz 1974). Munzs onion is well adapted to summer drought and varied amounts of rainfall from year to year. McNeal (1992) found that flowering in the Allium fimbriatum complex appeared to be correlated to early rains in the late fall and early winter. When rainfall is plentiful, most plants within a population bloom. When rainfall is light, many plants sprout leaves but few flower.

Duration: Perennial

Growth

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun .

Taxonomy

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Unambiguous Synonyms

  1. Allium fimbriatum S. Watson Var. munzii Ownbey & Aase Ex Traub, Pl. Life 28: 64. 1972
  2. Allium fimbriatum var. munzii Ownbey and Aase

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name . Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 15-Mar-2000

Place of publication : Aliso 13:415. 1992

Name verified on 11-Jan-2007 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 11-Jan-2007

Similar Species

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Genetics: Munzs onion, a member of the Alliaceae (=Liliaceae, in part), is one of over 500 species within the genus Allium (McNeal 1993). Munzs onion belongs to the Allium fimbriatum complex, a group of seven species found primarily in California (McNeal 1992). Munz (1974) and McNeal (1992) provide descriptions for the onions in this complex. Munzs onion is first proposed as A. fimbriatum var. munzii by Ownbey in his revision of the A. fimbriatum group (Munz and Keck 1959; McNeal 1992), The combination was not validly published until 1972 (McNeal 1992). In a recent review of the complex, McNeal (1992) elevated several varieties of A. fimbriatum, including A. f. var. munzii to full species because of differences in the perianth segments, bulb coat, and the structure of the ovarian crests. The meiotic chromosome number of Munzs onion is n=7, the most common number for species in North America (McNeal 1992).

Members of the genus Allium

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 2892 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

A. a-bolosii · A. aaseae (South Idaho Onion) · A. abdelkaderi · A. ablyanthum · A. ablyanthum var. striolatum · A. abramsii (Abrams' Allium) · A. acetabulum 'Shinners' · A. acetabulum var. lavendulare · A. achaium · A. acidoides · A. aciphyllum · A. acre · A. acuminatum (Purple-Flowered Garlic) · A. acuminatum 'Album' · A. acuminatum cuspidatum · A. acutangulum · A. acutiflorum · A. acutum · A. adzharicum · A. aegaeum · A. aegilicum · A. aemulans · A. aestivale · A. aethusanum · A. aff. elburzense · A. affine · A. afghanicum · A. aflatunense (Flowering Onion) · A. aflatunense 'Alba' · A. aflatunense 'Purple Sensation' (Persian Flowering Onion) · A. afrum · A. agrigentinum · A. aitchisonii · A. akaka · A. 'Akbulak' · A. alabasicum · A. alaicum · A. alaschanicum · A. alataviense · A. alatum · A. albanum · A. alberti · A. albescens · A. albidum · A. albiflorum · A. albopilosum · A. Albopilosum 'Star of Persia' · A. albostellerianum · A. albotunicatum · A. albotunicatum subsp. hermoneum · A. albovianum · A. album · A. album purpurascens · A. alexandrae · A. alexeianum · A. alibile · A. allegheniense (Wild Leek) · A. alpicolum · A. alpinarii · A. alpinum · A. altaicum · A. altissimum · A. altyncolicum · A. amabile · A. amamianum · A. amansii · A. 'Ambassador' · A. ambiguum · A. ambiguum var. obtusum · A. amblyanthum · A. amblyophyllum · A. amethystinum (Ornamental Allium) · A. ammophilum · A. amoenum · A. ampeloprasoides · A. ampeloprasum (Broadleaf Wild Leek) · A. ampeloprasum 'Elephant' · A. ampeloprasum f. scaberrimum · A. ampeloprasum group · A. ampeloprasum L. var. porrum (L.) J.Gay · A. ampeloprasum 'Porrum' (Garden Leek) · A. ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum (Broadleaf Wild Leek) · A. ampeloprasum var. atroviolaceum (Broadleaf Wild Leek) · A. ampeloprasum var. babbingtonii (Babbingtons Leek) · A. ampeloprasum var. babingtonii (Babington´s Leek) · A. amphibolum · A. amphipulchellum · A. amplectans · A. amplectens (Narrowleaf Onion) · A. anacoleum · A. anatolicum · A. anceps (Kellogg's Onion) · A. anceps aberrans · A. andersonii · A. andicolum · A. angolense · A. anguinum · A. angulare · A. angulosum (Mouse Garlic) · A. angustitepalum

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 28, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Dale W. McNeal Jr. & T. D. Jacobsen "Allium". in Flora of North America Vol. 26 Page 53, 55, 224, 225, 259, 334, 336. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
Last Revised: 7/1/2009