碱韭 jian jiu

Allium polyrhizum var. przewalskii Regel.

Bulbs densely clustered, cylindric, 0.5--1 cm in diam.; tunic yellowish brown to dark chestnut brown, subreticulate to reticulate. Leaves shorter than scape, 0.3--1 mm wide, semiterete, scabrous-denticulate or rarely smooth on margin. Scape 7--30 cm, terete, covered with leaf sheaths only at base. Spathe 2- or 3-valved, persistent. Umbel hemispheric, densely many flowered. Pedicels 1--2 × as long as perianth, bracteolate or rarely ebracteolate. Perianth purple-red to pale purple-red, rarely white; segments with red midvein; outer ones ovate to narrowly so, 3--5 × 1.5-- 2.5 mm; inner ones oblong-ovate, 4--6 × 1.5--2 mm. Filaments equal, equaling or slightly longer than perianth segments, connate at base for 1/6--1/3 their length, adnate to perianth segments for 1/3--1/2 of connate part; outer ones subulate; inner ones broadened at base, 1-toothed on each side. Ovary ovoid, without concave nectaries at base. Style longer than ovary, exserted. Fl. and fr. Jun--Aug. 2 n = 32*.

Sunny slopes, pastures, saline-alkaline soils, gravelly places, desert steppes; 1000--3700 m. Gansu, N Hebei, W Heilongjiang, W Jilin, N Liaoning, Nei Mongol, N Ningxia, Qinghai, N Shaanxi, N Shanxi, Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia].