Allium cuthbertii Small. Common name: Cuthbert's Onion. Phenology: May-Jun; Jun-Jul. Habitat: Longleaf pine sandhills, other dry sandy areas. Distribution: C. SC south through GA and AL to ne. FL. Previous reports from NC are based on misidentifications or populations now recognized as Allium keeverae.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Other Comments: The bright emerald green ovary of the fresh flowers is a striking and distinctive character for distinguishing A. cuthbertii and A. keeverae from some similar taxa.
Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, S, S13, Poindexter, Weakley, & Williams (2017) in Weakley et al (2017); < Allium cuthbertii Small – FNA26, K1, K3, RAB, W, WH3
Links to other floras: < Allium cuthbertii - FNA26
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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Horticultural Information
Intro: An erect, scapose perennial occurring rarely in sandhills, on granitic domes and flatrocks, and on the thin soils around rock outcrops receiving nutrient-rich seepage; often with plants that are restricted to calcium-rich substrates.
Stems: Stem a smooth flowering scape arising from a bulb with a cross-hatched fibrous covering.
Leaves: Leaves basal, flattish and solid, 8-15 in. long.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers on stalks in a dome-shaped, compact umbel (no bulbils), which begins with a sacklike, membranous covering, dried remnants of which usually persists at the base of the inflorescence. Flowers white, sometimes streaked with pink, and consisting of 6 spreading, sword-shaped, pointy tepals, 6 stamens, and a striking emerald-green, bumpy-surfaced ovary.
Fruits: Fruit a 3-lobed capsules containing black seeds.
Comments:
Height: 8-24 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: An erect, scapose perennial occurring rarely in sandhills, on granitic domes and flatrocks, and on the thin soils around rock outcrops receiving nutrient-rich seepage; often with plants that are restricted to calcium-rich substrates.
stems: Stem a smooth flowering scape arising from a bulb with a cross-hatched fibrous covering.
leaves: Leaves basal, flattish and solid, 8-15 in. long.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers on stalks in a dome-shaped, compact umbel (no bulbils), which begins with a sacklike, membranous covering, dried remnants of which usually persists at the base of the inflorescence. Flowers white, sometimes streaked with pink, and consisting of 6 spreading, sword-shaped, pointy tepals, 6 stamens, and a striking emerald-green, bumpy-surfaced ovary.
fruits: Fruit a 3-lobed capsules containing black seeds.
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cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: NC, SC, GA, FL & AL