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Sharsmith's onion

Scientific Name: Allium sharsmithiae

Family: Liliaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Allium sharsmithiae

Allium sharsmithiae, commonly known as Sharsmith's onion, Mount Hamilton onion, or Helen Sharsmith's onion, is a rare species of wild onion found in a small region of California.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature:

  • Scientific Name: Allium sharsmithiae (Ownbey & Aase) McNeal
  • Family: Alliaceae (Lily Family or Onion Family)
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Rank: Species
  • Synonyms:
    • Allium fimbriatum var. sharsmithiae Ownbey & Aase
    • Allium sharsmithae (a misspelling)
    • Allium sharsmithiae (Ownbey & Aase ex Traub) McNeal
    • Allium sharsmithiae (Traub) D. McNeal

Distribution and Habitat:

  • Endemic to a small region in California.
  • Projected to potentially lose its suitable climate habitat within California by 2100.

Morphological Characteristics:

  • A perennial herb and a monocot.
  • Bulbiferous.

Additional Information:

  • The species is named after Helen Katherine Myers Sharsmith (1905-1982), a botanist who contributed to the knowledge of California flora.

Further Information:

  • Discover Life offers a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Allium sharsmithiae.