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Field Guide


Passey's Onion

Passey's Onion (Allium passeyi)
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Photo by C. Delmatier; C. Delmatier
C. Delmatier; C. Delmatier

Allium passeyi

NatureServe conservation status

Global (G-rank): G1
State (S-rank): S1

Utah Wildlife Action Plan status

  • SGCN

External links


General information

Allium passeyi also known as Passey’s onion is a perennial bulbous herb with pink to white flowers. This onion is endemic to the Blue Creek Valley in Utah and appears to be restricted to thin, dolomitic or lithosolic soils. 

Description

Allium passeyi also known as Passey’s onion is a perennial bulbous herb with pink to white flowers. This onion is endemic to the Blue Creek Valley in Utah and appears to be restricted to thin, dolomitic or lithosolic soils. 

Phenology

Flowering from late May through June.

Diagnostic characteristics

While Allium passeyi is similar to A. geyeri and A. textile, passey onion has wider leaves at 3-6.5 mm compared to 3 mm of less. Passy onion has different habitat presences compared to A. geyeri as the later favors mesic sites. A. geyeri also has scapes that far surpass the leaves and A. textile has white flowers and smooth surfaced seeds compared to A. passeyi’s pink flowers and pustules surfaced seeds.

Species range

Allium passeyi is endemic to the Blue Creek Valley in Box Elder county, Utah. 

Threats or limiting factors

The inheriently small distribution and population size may increase the species’ vulnerability to threats. Main threats to this species are grazing, invasive plant species, drought and potential habitat destruction as this species is restricted to rocky, shallow lithosolic soils.

Taxonomy

No, this species does not have taxonomic discrepancies