Allium saxatile, Bieb.

4. A. saxatile Bieb. , Tabi. Prov. Casp. 114 (1798)

(inch A. globosum Bieb. ex Redouté , A. marschallianum Vved. ).

Bulbs 0-5-1-5 cm in diameter, narrowly conical, attached to a short rhizome; outer tunics coriaceous, splitting lengthwise into strips. Stem 10-70 cm, terete. Leaves 3-7, 5-20 cm x 0-5-1 mm, sheathing the lower | or less of the stem, filiform, canaliculate. Spathe 2-valved; valves unequal, one long-beaked, up to 3 cm and distinctly longer than the umbel, persistent. Umbel 2-4 cm in diameter, subglobose or hemispherical, many-flowered; pedicels 5- 15 mm, almost equal. Perianth cup-shaped; segments 3-5-6 x 1-2 mm, deep pink to white, elliptical, acute. Stamens exserted; filaments 4-5 mm, simple, connate at base. Capsule 3-5-4-5 mm. 2n = 16. Rocky slopes and steppes. S.E. Europe, extending westwards to N. & C. Italy and northwards to c. 55° 30' N. in C. Russia. Bu It Ju Rm Rs (C, W, K, E). Although few collections are annotated as to the flower-colour in a living state, there would appear to be regional colour-differ­ entiation. Plants with pink perianth and purple anthers (typical A. saxatile ) occur from the E. Alps eastwards, while plants with yellowish-white perianth and yellow anthers ( A. marschallianum Vved. ) occur in N. Italy, the N. part of the Balkan peninsula and Krym. Further study of these variants is required to ascertain their status.