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Species Details
Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium Read more about this collection »
LeavesBasal, 2, linear to long lance-shaped, 10-17 cm long, 1-3 mm wide. Sheathing; margins entire or very small teeth (JSTOR). Parallel venation; alternate; grass like (National Park Service).
FlowersInflorescence an umbel, 10-30 flowers; flowers radially symmetric, pitcher- to bell-shaped; tepals 6, 5-7 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, erect, white or rarely pink, red or reddish brown midribs, outer whorl broadly egg-shaped to lance-shaped, unequal, inner whorl narrower; stamens 6, anthers yellow; pistils 1, ovary superior, stigmas capitate
Fruits and SeedsCapsule, egg-shaped; seeds black, shiney, reversely egg-shaped. Honeycombed (Moss, 1983).
Scientific Name
Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
Common Name
prairie onion
General Description
A perennial herb that grows from a bulb and bears white to pale pink flowers (National Park Service).
Leaves
Basal, 2, linear to long lance-shaped, 10-17 cm long, 1-3 mm wide. Sheathing; margins entire or very small teeth (JSTOR). Parallel venation; alternate; grass like (National Park Service).
Flowers
Inflorescence an umbel, 10-30 flowers; flowers radially symmetric, pitcher- to bell-shaped; tepals 6, 5-7 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, erect, white or rarely pink, red or reddish brown midribs, outer whorl broadly egg-shaped…
Inflorescence an umbel, 10-30 flowers; flowers radially symmetric, pitcher- to bell-shaped; tepals 6, 5-7 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, erect, white or rarely pink, red or reddish brown midribs, outer whorl broadly egg-shaped to lance-shaped, unequal, inner whorl narrower; stamens 6, anthers yellow; pistils 1, ovary superior, stigmas capitate
Fruits and Seeds
Capsule, egg-shaped; seeds black, shiney, reversely egg-shaped. Honeycombed (Moss, 1983).
Phenology
Flowers from May to June (JSTOR).
Notes
2n=14*, 28* (Moss, 1983). Formally in family Liliaceae, now in Alliaceae (Chayka, 2015).
Ethno-botanical uses:
The bulbous root is eaten as a wild onion. The Blackfoot collected the onions in May or June and boiled…
2n=14*, 28* (Moss, 1983). Formally in family Liliaceae, now in Alliaceae (Chayka, 2015).
Ethno-botanical uses:
The bulbous root is eaten as a wild onion. The Blackfoot collected the onions in May or June and boiled them with meat or preserved them for later use.
The juice of the plant has been used as a moth repellent and the whole plant is said to repel insects and moles.
Range/Distribution
Alberta: Southern and central Alberta on the prairies (Canadensys). CAN (AB, MB, SK); USA (CO, IA, ID, KS, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, SD, UT, WA, WY) (USDA).
Citation
Page Citation for Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
Page Citation
"Species Details - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr., University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search-test.museums.ualberta.ca/g/1-2864/12-7402. Accessed 27 Sep. 2025.
Specimen Information
There are 95 specimens of this Species.
73382 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Fairy Hill
Date Collected1951-07-01
73378 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Saskatchewan, Carnduff
Date Collected1960-06-04
73379 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Manitoba, Ninette
Date Collected1960-06-02
79735 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Nevis
Date Collected1973-05-25
4844 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Lethbridge
Date Collected1941-05-13
79737 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Chin Coulee
Date Collected1975-06-07
79736 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Battle River
Date Collected1973-05-25
79732 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Paintearth
Date Collected1974-06-25
36512 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Fort Saskatchewan
Date Collected1940-06-02
4857 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Craigmyle
Date Collectedearly June
72147 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Drumheller
Date Collected1974-05-31
4856 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Island Lake
Date Collected1915-06-12
37207 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Calgary
Date Collected1952-06-19
4854 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Waterton River
Date Collected1953-07-12
4846 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park, Red Rock Canyon
Date Collected1935-06-18
4843 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Veteran
Date Collected1927-06-04
37204 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Calgary
Date Collected1923-06-25
24858 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Dinosaur Provincial Park
Date Collected1968-05-18
4853 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Pincher Station
Date Collected1940-06-21
4858 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place Collectedunknown
Date Collected1895-06-08
4851 - Allium textile A. Nels. & J. F. Macbr.
University of Alberta Vascular Plant Herbarium
Common Nameprairie onion
Place CollectedNorth America: Canada, Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park
Date Collected1953-06-27