Ramp

Bulbs 2–6, usually borne on short rhizome, ovoid-conic, 1.5–6 × 1.5–3 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish to grayish, reticulate, cells finely fibrous; inner coat white, obscurely cellular, cells irregularly arranged. Leaves ephemeral, usually absent at anthesis, 2–3, basal; blade solid, flat, elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, (15–)20–30(–40) cm × 15–90 mm, tapering to long, slender petiole, margins entire. Scape persistent, solitary, flexuous distally, terete, 10–40 cm × 2–4 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, loose, (6–)30–50-flowered, obconic to ± hemispheric, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, 2, ± 3-veined, lanceolate to lance-ovate, ± equal, apex acute, beakless. Flowers campanulate, 4–7 mm; tepals erect, white to cream or yellowish, oblong to ovate, ± equal, not withering in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse; stamens ± equaling tepals; anthers white to light yellow; pollen white; ovary crestless; style included, linear, shorter than stamens; stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed; pedicel 10–20 mm. Seed coat shining; cells smooth.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): e North America.

SELECTED REFERENCE

Jones, A. G. 1979. A study of wild leek, and the recognition of Allium burdickii (Liliaceae). Syst. Bot. 4: 29–43.