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Allium canadense var. lavandulare (Bates) Ownbey & Aase  
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Family: Amaryllidaceae
meadow garlic
[Allium lavendulare]
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
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The Morton Arboretum
Perennial herb with one to four or more bulbs flowering stem 20 cm - 0.6 m tall Leaves: usually three to six, arising from lower half of stem, 15 - 40 cm long, 2 - 7 mm wide, flat, grass-like. Inflorescence: an upright, dome-shaped umbel of 25 - 60 flowers raised on a stout stalk and subtended by two to three bracts. Flowers: on long stalks, usually lavender, rarely white, 5 - 8 mm wide, bell- to star-shaped, with six tepals that wither when the plant is in fruit. Stamens six, upright. Fruit: a short, three-lobed capsule. Bulbs: often clustered, without basal bulbils (little bulbs), up to 2.5 cm tall, somewhat oval or egg-shaped, and encased in a brown, fibrous, netlike coating. Bulbs have a strong onion-like odor.

Similar species: The fibrous netlike coating of the underground bulbs and the lavender flowers help distinguish Allium canadense var. lavandulare from other similar-looking Allium.

Flowering: June

Habitat and ecology: Introduced from south of the Chicago Region. Very rare in the Chicago Region. Has been found in dry gravelly soil and on a limestone barren.

Occurence in the Chicago region: non-native

Etymology: Allium comes from the Latin word for garlic. Canadense refers to Canada, but is also used in reference to North America (a result of early French influence).

Author: The Morton Arboretum

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Allium canadense var. lavandulare
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Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Mathis, Marilyn  
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Mathis, Marilyn  
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
Allium canadense var. lavandulare image
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