chemist233: What is the history of the flowering onion ?
I’d like to know that history of the onion species that are grown for ornamental purposes, not for food.
Answers and Views:
Answer by sinful soul
check out the links mentioned in source.. you may find them helpful
In British Columbia we are fortunate to have seven species of attractive native flowering onions. Nodding onion (Allium cernuum) is widespread. But the relatively rare species in B.C., Hooker’s or tapertip onion, is one of the most abundant on the continent.
Hooker’s onion of the Onion Family (Alliaceae) grows as a bulbous perennial. The generally creamy to light brown true bulb has the shape of slightly flattened globe. It is small, less than the size of a thumb nail on average 1.5 cm (0.6″) across. In the wild, bulbs occur in clusters of about the size that would fit easily into the palm of a hand.
Normally each bulb bears 2-4 channelled leaves which are predominantly grey green with a reddish base. At first the leaves stand erect, but by the time they reach 15 cm (6″) long they reflex. By onion standards, the leaves seem nearly insignificant reaching a maximum of scarcely half a centimetre across and 30 cm (12″) long or less. Leaves usually dry out and break off by flowering time.
Flowers are borne on a firm rounded stalk which ranges from 10-30 cm (4-12″) tall. Two papery bracts surround the bud which contains 5-30 flowers. The blooms sit upon more or less equal stalklets, so that the head forms a loose umbel reaching about 7.5 cm (3″) across. Each flower consists of 6 perianth segments, three petal-like sepals and three petals. The lance-shaped outer petals reach about 1 cm (0.4″) long. Their tips notably reflex especially with age. Six short anthers surround a slightly crested ovary which bears a stigma. Generally petals are pinkish but vary from intense rosy purple to nearly white.
The first signs of life appear in early February as the leaf tips begin to emerge. In Victoria this occurs well before the end of winter so that snow and frost may freeze back young shoots. During April leaves continue to get longer and reach their maximum length. By the end of the month the first flower stalks poke out of the ground reaching up to 30 cm (12″) tall in June when flowers open. Capsules split in July to reveal black seeds which are easy to harvest by sharply shaking seed heads into a bag.
Hooker’s onion ranges from southern British Columbia to northern California and eastward to Colorado and Wyoming. In BC its distribution includes dry parts of Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland extending into the Fraser Canyon. Hooker’s onion clearly favours dry rocky sites, typically growing in pockets of soil on rocky knolls and coastal headlands. Sometimes it survives in only about 5 cm (2″) of mossy crust cover over bedrock, yet it flowers reliably every year. Occasionally this onion thrives under Garry oaks (Quercus garryana), albeit in very shallow rocky soil over bedrock.
These bulbs are little cultivated and rarely available, yet they thrive under appropriate conditions and produce a pleasing display. The site must be in full sun, sharply drained and with a sandy soil. Avoid summer watering. Rock gardens, the front of dry perennial beds and pots suit Hooker’s onion well in the milder parts of southern BC Plant bulbs about 5 cm (2″) deep about 5-7.5 cm (2-5″) apart so that the flower heads touch. Divide the clusters every 5-10 years in late summer. Order Hooker’s onions from specialist native plant suppliers or grow them from fall-sown seed. Do not dig this relatively rare plant in the wild.
Native Peoples of coastal British Columbia savoured various wild onion species including Hooker’s onion. Bulbs were eaten raw or steamed in great pits. In some areas the pits were lined with pine boughs and covered with lichens and alder boughs. Bulbs and shoots have a mild onion flavour and smell.
We have several native onion species in the Native Plant Garden of the Royal BC Museum. The onions flower mainly in June and early July. For more information contact Richard Hebda at the Royal British Columbia Museum.
Leave a Reply