Bulbs 1–4+, without rhizome, with or without basal bulbels, often clustered, ovoid, 1–2.5 × 0.6–3 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish or grayish, reticulate, cells fine-meshed, open, fibrous; inner coats whitish, cells vertically elongate, sometimes contorted, walls straight or ± sinuous. Leaves persistent, green at anthesis, 2–6, basally sheathing, sheaths extending less than 1/4 scape; blade solid, flat, channeled, not carinate, 20–50 cm × 1–7 mm, margins entire or denticulate, apex acute to obtuse. Scape persistent, usually solitary, erect, terete, 10–60 cm × 1–5 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, loose, 0–60-flowered, hemispheric to globose, bulbils unknown or flowering pedicels replaced at least in part by bulbils; spathe bracts persistent, 3–4, 3–7-veined, ovate to lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate, beakless. Flowers urceolate-campanulate, 4–8 mm; tepals erect or spreading, white to pink or lavender, lanceolate to elliptic, ± equal, withering in fruit and exposing capsule, midribs somewhat thickened, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute; stamens included; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary, when present, crestless; style linear, ± equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurely 3-lobed; pedicel 8–70 mm. Seed-coat shining; cells each with minute, central papilla.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

North America

Discussion

Varieties 6 (6 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Allium canadense var. canadense, Allium canadense var. ecristatum, Allium canadense var. fraseri, Allium canadense var. hyacinthoides, Allium canadense var. lavendulare, Allium canadense var. mobilense

Key

1	Flowering pedicels mostly or entirely replaced by bulbils, rarely producing capsules or seeds.	Allium canadense var. canadense
1	Flowering pedicels all floriferous, bulbils almost unknown, producing capsules and seeds.	> 2
2	Tepals usually white.	Allium canadense var. fraseri
2	Tepals pinkish to lilac.	> 3
3	Pedicels filiform; scape 10–30(–50) cm.	Allium canadense var. mobilense
3	Pedicels stouter, not filiform; scape 10–60 cm.	> 4
4	Umbels 5–25-flowered; pedicels 3–4 times flowers; tepals thick.	Allium canadense var. ecristatum
4	Umbels usually more than 25-flowered; pedicels 2–5 times flowers; tepals thin.	> 5
5	Flowers fragrant; scape 15–30 cm; nc Texas to s Oklahoma.	Allium canadense var. hyacinthoides
5	Flowers odorless; scape 20–60 cm; n Oklahoma to n Arkansas, northward.	Allium canadense var. lavendulare

"thicker" is not a number."broad" is not a number.