Bulbs 2–20+, without basal bulbels, 1–2.5 × 1.2–2.8 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, dark brown, reticulate, cells coarse-meshed, open, fibrous; inner coats whitish, cells regular, vertically elongate, walls not sinuous. Leaves persistent, green at anthesis, 3–5, sheathing; blade solid, flat, channeled, 8–30 cm × 1–2(–3) mm, margins entire. Scape persistent, solitary, erect, ± terete, 10–20 cm × 1–3 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, loose, 5–25-flowered, hemispheric-globose, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 3–7-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers urceolate, 7–10 mm; tepals erect, white or pale pink with deep pink midribs to deep rose, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming callous-keeled and permanently investing capsule, margins entire, apex obtuse or acute; stamens included; anthers yellow or purple; pollen yellow; ovary crestless; style linear, ± equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurely lobed; pedicel 3–17 mm, ± 2 times perianth at anthesis, elongating in fruit. Seed coat dull or shining; cells minutely roughened.
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Strictly floriferous, without bulblets in the infl; tep persistent, becoming callous-keeled and permanently investing the fr; alveoli of the seed-coat without pustules; otherwise much like no. 1 [Allium canadense L.]. Sandy soil on the plains; S.D. and w. Io. to Okla., Tex., and N.M. Our plants belong to the relatively northern var. perdulce, with fragrant fls and deep rose tep, fading purple.
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