Allium cyathophorum is a Chinese (Chinese: 杯花韭, bei hua jiu) species of flowering plant in the onion genus Allium of the family Amaryllidaceae.[1] It grows at elevations from 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) up to 4,600 metres (15,100 ft).[2]
| Allium cyathophorum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A. cyathophorum var. farreri | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Allioideae |
| Genus: | Allium |
| Subgenus: | A. subg. Cyathophora |
| Species: | A. cyathophorum |
| Binomial name | |
| Allium cyathophorum | |
Description
editThis bulbous herbaceous perennial has thick roots but thin, fibrous bulbs. The scapes are usually 2-angled, up to 15 cm (5.9 in) tall. The leaves are flat, narrowly linear, usually shorter than the scapes. The umbels are hemispheric (half spheres) with purple flowers.[2][3]
Taxonomy
editAllium cyathophorum is found in the third evolutionary line of the genus Allium. It is a member of the subgenus Cyathophora and is the type species for that subgenus.
Varieties
editTwo infraspecific varieties are recognized:[2]
- Allium cyathophorum var. cyathophorum (Syn. Allium venustum C.H.Wright)[4] – tepals blunt-tipped – Qinghai, Sichuan, Tibet, Yunnan
- Allium cyathophorum var. farreri (Stearn) Stearn (Syn. Allium farreri Stearn)[5][6][7] – tepals pointed at the tips – Gansu, Sichuan
William Stearn originally named Allium farreri in 1930 after Reginald Farrer, but in 1950 realised it was a variety of Allium cyathophorum, and so renamed it.
References
editBibliography
edit
- Stearn, William T. (1930). "A new Allium from China (A. farreri, sp. nov.)". Journal of Botany. 68: 342–343.
- Stearn, W. T. (1955a). "Allium cyathophorum var. farreri". Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 170 (new series): tab. 252.
- "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 8 August 2015.