About Allium peninsulare Lemmon ex Greene
Allium peninsulare Lemmon ex Greene is most commonly found in valley grassland, foothill woodland, and coastal chaparral, growing at elevations up to 1100 m (3660 feet). This plant produces a bulb that is 8–15 mm wide, and grows two to three channeled to more or less cylindrical leaves. Between May and July, it produces a 12–45 cm tall scape topped with an umbel holding 5–35 flowers, each of which sits on an 0.8–4 cm pedicel. Its flowers are red-purple and have six triangular tepals. The three inner tepals are smaller than the three outer tepals, and have teeth along their margins. Two varieties of Allium peninsulare are currently recognized. A. peninsulare var. franciscanum McNeal & Ownbey has arched leaves, and an unlobed or obscurely 3-lobed stigma; it occurs in central California from Mendocino County to Monterey County. A. peninsulare var. peninsulare has straight leaves, and a strongly 3-lobed stigma; it is widespread from Baja California to Oregon. Allium peninsulare var. crispum (Greene) Jeps., a taxon formerly included within Allium peninsulare, is now classified as the separate species Allium crispum Greene.
