They always look like this, and I lifted them out in a clump of soil so definitely no fibrous layer. I believe there are many different sub-species or regional ecotypes from what I have read. Lots of variability.
Mine can get pretty large bulbs too, up to about the size of a nickel.
Some have no fibers, some a very light coating. Most it’s insignificant. If you look very closely in the first picture below, you can see the outer sheathe that usually has the fibers if they are present.
Other than that it fits the description of Canadensis.
That’s a lot of flowers, do your’s make many bulbils?
I haven’t seen any, but I haven’t been paying attention. Looking at the few currently blooming, I see no bulbils.
Interesting. You may have Allium canadense var. mobilense
WOW! Definitely save me some seeds if you get the chance, this a species I’d love to grow!
@Lauren Likewise since your plants make only flowers, you are likely to have a bunch of seeds, definitely save me some too. I will gladly trade.
I haven’t looked into the variety classification of Allium canadense, so the variety that makes no bulblets is var. mobilense?
Yes, very few if any bulbils and it’s flowers are usually some shade of pink very rarely white.
Here’s a quick breakdown of different varieties.
This is AI, because I have never found a source that covers all varieties together.
Also, I think there is probably a lot of overlap between varieties, some sources seem to contradict each other on certain traits…
Allium canadense Varieties
The species Allium canadense is widely recognized to have five to six distinct varieties, primarily distinguished by flower color, the presence of aerial bulblets, and geographic distribution.
Recognized Varieties and Characteristics:
• var. canadense: The bulblet-producing form where most pedicels are replaced by bulbils, rarely producing fruits or seeds; found throughout the majority of the species’ range.
• var. ecristatum: Features deep pink, rather thick tepals and is restricted to the coastal plain of Texas.
• var. fraseri: Bears white flowers and is found in the Great Plains from Texas to Kansas.
• var. hyacinthoides: Has thin, pink tepals with fragrant flowers; located in northern Texas and southern Oklahoma.
• var. lavandulare: Displays lavender flowers that are not fragrant and lacks bulblets; found from northern Arkansas to South Dakota.
• var. mobilense: Produces lilac flowers with thread-like pedicels and lacks bulblets; found in the southeastern US.
• var. robustum: A variety recognized in the northeastern US (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT), often found in floodplains and riparian forests.
I found this website that breaks down the varities
It seems the AI got most of these right? Except I think var. robustum doesn’t exist???
There also seems to be a difference between fragrant flowers vs odor-less flowers?
It’s interesting that the presence or lack of the fibrous layer on the bulbs doesn’t seem to be discussed in most sources. And I would assume that is probably a major identifying feature.
It would be really interesting to see if we could identify if that is a regional adaptation. I could see it maybe being beneficial in adapting to colder parts of the country that regularly experience freezing soils.
I would also, it’s very odd but perhaps most botanist don’t uproot plants?
This is the source where I found the fibrous cross-shaped bulbs.
Now that is the more important question! It could be. Probably need some genotype studies but it would also be interesting to see if we cna get hybrids with Allium drummondii and other Amerallium & Caulorhizideum Section species.
So far yours seem well adapted to where you live? What would you like to see improved in Allium canadense? From sam thayer’s experience, he says Allium canadense has better texture than Allium vineale. I’ve never encountered Allium canadense or tried eating it myself so I can’t say.
We have GTS members across the entire range. If everyone sent a photo of their local population we could probably, eventually, identify all the different traits and where they are correlated.
It’s a pretty common weed here. I’ve mostly used the leaves for cooking to add some onion flavor. The bulbs are good too.
I would work on selecting for longer leaves and consistently larger bulbs.
OOh! This would a fantastic Idea. Probably should start an Allium canadense post.
Nice! It certainly is not common where I live. The only Allium I find is Allium vineale.
