Coastal Onion

Bulbs 1–3, increase bulbs absent or ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to ± globose, 10–15 mm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, prominently cellular-reticulate, membranous, cells arranged in ± vertical rows, forming distinct herringbone pattern, transversely elongate, V-shaped, without fibers; inner coats white, cells obscure, arranged in vertical rows, forming distinct herringbone pattern, transversely elongate, V-shaped. Leaves persistent, withering from tip by anthesis, 3–6, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface; blade solid, subterete or ± channeled, arcuate to ± tortuous, 7–25 cm × 1–3 mm, margins entire. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 10–30 cm × 2–3 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, compact, 5–30-flowered, conic to hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, 4–6-veined, broadly ovate, ± equal, apex abruptly acuminate. Flowers campanulate, 9–12 mm; tepals ± erect, deep reddish purple, ovate, unequal, inner shorter and narrower than outer, becoming rigid and ± carinate in fruit, margins entire or inner minutely denticulate, apex acute to obtuse, spreading to recurved at tips; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crested; processes 3, central, 2-lobed, minute, margins entire; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed or minutely 3-lobed; pedicel 5–20 mm. Seed coat dull or shining; cells minutely roughened. 2n = 14.

Calif.

Flowering May--Jul.

Dry, clay soils on or near sea cliffs; 10--50m.

Allium dichlamydeum is a species of wild onion known by the common name coastal onion. It is endemic to California where it grows on sea cliffs and hills overlooking the ocean, from Santa Barbara County to Mendocino County.