About Allium stellatum Nutt. ex Ker Gawl.
Allium stellatum Nutt. ex Ker Gawl. is a perennial plant that grows an underground bulb. An erect, leafless flowering stalk called a scape grows from the plant's grass-like basal leaves; the scape reaches 30 to 60 centimetres (1 to 2 ft) tall, while the leaves can grow up to 30 centimetres (1 ft) long. The leaves die back as a rounded umbel of pink to purple flowers forms at the end of the scape during the summer. This umbel is approximately 5 to 8 centimetres (2 to 3 in) across. Each tiny flower is slightly longer than 0.6 centimetres (0.25 in), with 3 petals and 3 sepals that flare outward. The bulbs of Allium stellatum have a strong flavor but are edible. The species is distributed from Ontario and Saskatchewan in Canada, south to Tennessee and Texas in the United States. It grows in rocky, sandy soil. Allium stellatum attracts small bees and flies to its foliage. Native mammals likely do not eat this plant, due to its strong scent and taste.
