Allium acuminatum Hook.
Hooker's onion (tapertip onion)
Amaryllidaceae (Lily family)
(Previously in Liliaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Gary Ansell     (Photo ID #12930)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Allium acuminatum
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from an egg-shaped to nearly globe-shaped, scaly bulb, the outer scales brownish, with a prominent fibrous network, the inner scales white; flowering stems erect, 10-30 cm tall, slender, round in cross-section, smooth.
Leaves:
Basal leaves 2 to 3 or more, linear, cylindric, shorter than to about as long as the flowering stem, 1-3 mm wide, smooth, the margins entire; stem leaves lacking.
Flowers:
Inflorescence an open, terminal umbel of several to many, stalked flowers, above 2 membranous, broadly lanceolate bracts, the stalks 1-3 cm long; flowers rose-pink to whitish, bell-shaped, of 6 distinct tepals, the tepals mostly 10-12 mm long, lanceolate, gradually tapering to pointed tips, the inner 3 with fine-toothed margins, the outer 3 larger, entire, the tips widely spreading to curved back; stamens 6, about 2/3 as long as the tepals; pistil 1, 3-chambered.
Fruits:
Capsules, more or less egg-shaped, 3-lobed, with 3 very small, rounded crests; seeds 6 or fewer, dull-black.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
Purple
Blooming Period:
Summer
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Black
Present from Summer to Fall
Source:  The USDA

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Allium acuminatum

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
151 31 285
Slope Gradient (%)
41 0 210

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

178 38 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
1 0 2
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
40
Modal BEC Zone Class
CDF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

CDF(10), PP(1)

Habitat and Range

Dry rocky bluffs, Garry Oak woodlands and meadows in the lowland and steppe zones; infrequent on SE Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Fraser Valley, north to Lytton and Pemberton; S to NM, AZ and CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Allium acuminatum var. cuspidatum Fernald