Inflorescence: 5-40 flowers; pedicels 1.5-4 cm., flower 8-12 mm; perianth parts pale pink; in fruit, petals folded over fruit. Nix Nature Center, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, CA. Nix Nat Ctr 3-28-09. © Joan Avise

Early Onion

Allium praecox

Fairly common in early spring on heavy clay soils in grassland, open coastal sage scrub and chaparral; Chino Hills, Santa Ana Cyn., San Joaquin Hills, mountain foothills and Santa Ana Mountains (Roberts). Grows from a bulb, 1-1.8 cm., outer coat with wavy herringbone pattern, inner coats white, determined only with magnification. Fruit a thin-walled capsule with 3 compartments (JM2). Flowering: March-May. More information

Endemic to California

Back to Alliaceae of Orange County, California
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Back to Natural History of Orange County, California


Nix Nature Center, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 3-28-09. © Joan Avise

Nix Nature Center, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 3-29-09. © Joan Avise

Three central, minute, 2-lobed ovary crests. UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-15-10. © Joan Avise

UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-15-10. © Joan Avise

UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-15-10. © Joan Avise

UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-23-10. © Joan Avise

UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-23-10. © Joan Avise

Stem: 20-60 cm. UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-23-10. © Joan Avise

Leaves: 2 or 3, 0.7-1.5 cm., may or may not be wider than the stem, widely channeled or flat in cross section, keeled (but see more information). UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-14-10. © Joan Avise

The plants grow in moist, shady spots, as in the grass behind the rocks in this picture.  UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-28-12. © Joan Avise

Two leaves plus the stem are visible at the base of the foliage.  UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-28-12. © Joan Avise

Developing seed capsules are covered with the papery dried perianth parts.  UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-28-12. © Joan Avise

UCI Ecological Preserve, Irvine, CA. 2-28-12. © Joan Avise