Allium Schoenoprasum : Wild Onion

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
  • Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
  • Angiospermae (enclosed seeds)

Class: Monocoteldonae (one seed-leaf)

Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Genera: Allium

(classic latin for garlic)

Species: Schoenoprasum

(Gk schoen=sharp+prason=leek)

English Name(s):

Wild Onion, Wild Chive

Gwich'in Name:

tl'oo drik

Structure:

• Onion smelling, ovid bulbs occur in clusters and are covered with a white, papery membrane.
• Stems 15-45cm high

Leaves:

• Long, thin, tapering, shorter than flower-stalk,
• Half round in cross section and hollow near the base.

Reproductive Parts:

• Numerous flowers are compacted into a dense, nearly shperical umbel
• Flowers with pink or rose-violet perianth-segments with darker viens

Seed:

• Fruits small egg shaped, 3-lobed capsule containing seeds.
• Seed black with honey combed surface, 1-2 per cavity.

Not to Be Confused With:

• No close look-a-likes in the study area, with out flower could possibly be confused with Death-Camas ( Zygadensis elegans) but can be distinguished by onion like smell

Physiology:

• Sulfenic acid gives onions thier distinctive odour. Cut or bruising the cells of Alium sps. releases this volatile acid into the air, causing burning of the eyes
• Herbacious

Life Cycle:

• biennial or short-lived perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Flowers late June to early Aug acording to elevation

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Moist to turfy places along river banks and lake shores

Modern:

Industrial:

• Flowers and stems dry well used for dried flower arrangements

Medicinal:

Food:

• Both bulbs and leaves are edible and good substitute for the garden variety.

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• Used to treat coughs and colds by making a syrup boiling down or adding sugar.
• A smuge of the bulb was used fumigate the patient
• snuff made by grinding the dried bulb was used to clear the sinuses
• Crushed bulbs used to treat insect bites and stings, hives, burns, scalds, sores,blemishes, and even snake bites.

Food:

• Is the ancestor of the cultivated Chive