About Allium monticola Davidson
Allium monticola, commonly called the San Bernardino Mountain onion, is an uncommon species of wild onion. It is endemic to southern California, growing in the Transverse Ranges and the northernmost portion of the Peninsular Ranges. Populations have been recorded in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties. This species typically grows in rocky habitats at elevations between 1400 and 3200 meters. It grows from a bulb 1 to 2 centimeters long, which often produces small daughter bulbs attached to the main bulb via stalks. Its waxy stem reaches a maximum height of around 25 centimeters, and the plant produces a single leaf that is often slightly longer than the stem. The inflorescence holds up to approximately 25 individual flowers. Each flower has tepals nearly two centimeters long, that are white or light pink with darker pink tips. The pollen and anthers of Allium monticola are yellow.
