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Munz's onion

Scientific Name: Allium munzii

Family: Liliaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names: CA (Munz's onion)

       

Munz's Onion (Allium munzii)

Allium munzii, commonly known as Munz's onion, is a rare and endangered species of wild onion native to California.

Considerations for Pets

  • The text mentions that Munz's onion grows from a bulb. Bulbs, in general, can be toxic to some animals if ingested.

Considerations for Children

  • The text mentions that the bulb is edible.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Allium munzii (Ownbey & Aase ex Traub) McNeal
  • Common Name: Munz's onion
  • Family: Amaryllidaceae (Liliaceae is also mentioned)
  • Genus: Allium L.
  • Synonym: Allium fimbriatum var. munzii Ownbey & Aase ex Traub
  • Taxonomic Status: Accepted

Distribution and Habitat

  • Munz's onion is endemic to western Riverside County, California.
  • Specific locations include the Gavilan Hills and Harford Springs County Park.
  • It thrives in dry, cracking soil.

Ecological Role

  • Munz's onion is a California threatened plant species, protected by law against killing or possession.
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated critical habitat areas for the species in western Riverside County.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • It is a bulb-forming perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years and regrows each spring from its bulb.
  • It spends most of its life underground, emerging aboveground only during the spring.
  • The plant grows from a reddish-brown bulb.
  • It is a forb/herb, a non-woody plant that is not a grass.
  • It sprouts white blossoms in the spring that turn pink as they dry out.

Status

  • It is on the U.S. Endangered Species List and is classified as endangered in California.