SafePlants

Geyer's Onion (Allium geyeri)

Allium geyeri, commonly known as Geyer's onion, is a widespread North American species of onion.

Considerations for Pets

• Geyer's onion is a bulb-forming plant.
• It has a strong onion smell.
• It has grass-like leaves.

Considerations for Children

• Native Americans are noted to have used Geyer's onion as a flavoring in soups and sometimes ate them raw.
• Geyer's onion is described as edible.
• It is a bulb-forming plant.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Allium geyeri S. Watson
• Common Name: Geyer's Onion, Geyer's Wild Onion, Bulbil Onion
• Family: Alliaceae (Onion Family), also sometimes classified under Liliaceae (Lily Family), and Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis family)
• Genus: Allium
• Species: geyeri
• Subspecies: Allium geyeri var. geyeri, Allium geyeri var. tenerum
• Synonyms: Allium dictyotum, Allium funiculosum, Allium rubrum

Distribution and Habitat

• Allium geyeri is native to western North America.
• It is widespread in the western United States and western Canada.
• Specifically, it's found in Texas, Oregon, New Mexico, Nevada, and the Rocky Mountain States.
• It grows in moist meadows and hillsides, from plains to subalpine areas, along streams and in open forests.

Morphological Characteristics

• Allium geyeri is a bulb-forming plant.
• It grows to a height of up to 0.5 meters (1 ft 8 in).
• It has grass-like leaves only at the base of the stalk.
• The flowers are lavender or pink and arranged in a compact, spherical umbel.

Additional Information

• The plant flowers from April to May.
• The flowers are hermaphrodite.
• "Alli" is the classical Latin name for garlic and onion plants.