Allium robinsonii

Allium robinsonii, the Columbia River onion or Robinson's onion, is a rare plant species native to the US States of Washington and Oregon, although some studies suggest that the Oregon populations may now be extinct. The species has been reported from 5 counties in Washington (Ferry, Yakima, Grant, Franklin and Benton) and 5 in Oregon (Umatilla, Morrow, Gilliam, Sherman and Wasco). It is found in sand and gravel deposits along the lower Columbia River and some of its tributaries, usually at elevations less than 200 m.[1][2][3] The species is also cultivated as an ornamental in other regions, including in Europe.[4]

Columbia River onion
Allium robinsonii in Grant County, Washington
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Allioideae
Genus: Allium
Species:
A. robinsonii
Binomial name
Allium robinsonii

Allium robinsonii produces 1-3 egg-shaped bulbs up to 2 cm long, but no underground rhizomes. Flowering stalks are relatively short for the genus, rarely more than 8 cm tall. Flowers are bell-shaped, up to 9 mm across; tepals white to pale pink with red midrib; anthers purple; pollen yellow or gray; ovary crested. The plant is named in honor of B.L. Robinson of the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University.[1][5][6][7][8]

References
  1. Flora of North America v 26 p 276, Allium robinsonii
  2. BONAP (Biota of North America Project) floristic synthesis, Allium robinsonii
  3. Wildflowers, Turner Photographics, Mike Turner, 2013
  4. "Gardening Europe, Allium robinsonii". Archived from the original on 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2014-03-14.
  5. Henderson, Louis Forniquet. 1930. Rhodora 32(374): 22.
  6. photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, isotype of Allium robinsonii
  7. Hitchcock, C. H., A.J. Cronquist, F. M. Ownbey & J. W. Thompson. 1969. Vascular Cryptogams, Gymnosperms, and Monocotyledons. 1: 1–914. In C. L. Hitchcock, Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle.
  8. Onions East of the Cascade Mountains, Paul Schlichter, Robinson's onion, 2007
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