SafePlants

Tapertip Onion (Allium acuminatum)

The Tapertip Onion, scientifically known as Allium acuminatum, is a captivating plant native to the western regions of the United States and Canada. Its beauty and resilience make it a notable species within the Allium genus.

Common Names

• Tapertip Onion
• Hooker's Onion

Considerations for Pets

• The entire plant has a strong onion odor and taste.
• This species has a bulb.

Considerations for Children

• The entire plant has a strong onion odor and taste.
• This species has a bulb.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Allium acuminatum
• Family: Alliaceae (formerly Liliaceae)
• Synonyms: The text mentions that the plant was previously classified in the Liliaceae family.
• Subspecies: Allium acuminatum var. cuspidatum is mentioned.

Distribution and Habitat

• The Tapertip Onion is found mainly in the western United States, from British Columbia to California, and in regions of Idaho and Utah.
• It thrives in various habitats, including sagebrush plains, rich meadows, rocky foothills, and mountain slopes. It often forms dense patches, especially in moist meadows.

Morphological Characteristics

• The plant has thin leaves that sprout from a grayish-brown, egg-shaped bulb. These leaves tend to wither as flowering begins.
• It features an erect stem with few basal leaves.
• The flowers, ranging in number from 10 to 40, are held in an inflorescence with bright magenta to white or purple, urn-like flowers. Tepals are sharply pointed, with outer ones recurved and inner ones having inrolled margins.

Quirky Facts

• It's said that this plant helped ill explorers by alerting them to the curative properties of wild onions for scurvy.