About Allium tolmiei Baker
Allium tolmiei, commonly called Tolmie's onion, is a plant species native to Idaho, eastern and central Oregon, southeastern Washington, northwestern Nevada, and northeastern California. It grows in mountains and scrublands at elevations ranging from 1,300 to 9,200 feet (400 to 2,800 m). The species was discovered by and named after Dr. William Fraser Tolmie. Allium tolmiei produces ovoid to oblique bulbs that grow up to 0.79 inches (2 cm) long; these bulbs typically disappear when the plant flowers and regrow later. Its flowers are bell-shaped, reaching up to 0.47 inches (12 mm) across. The tepals are white to pink with reddish midribs; anthers are purple or yellow, and pollen is yellow. Two varieties of Allium tolmiei are currently recognized. Allium tolmiei var. tolmiei has scapes 2.0 to 11.8 inches (5 to 30 cm) tall, and its stamens are shorter than the tepals. Allium tolmiei var. persimile Ownbey, with the synonym Allium persimile (Ownbey) Traub & Ownbey, has scapes 3.9 to 15.7 inches (10 to 40 cm) tall, stamens longer than its sepals, and is known only from the Seven Devils Mountains in Idaho.
