Allium runyonii

Bulbs 1-3, bearing cluster of short-stalked, basal bulbels, ovoid, 1.2-2 × 1.2-2 cm; outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish, reticulate, cells very coarse-meshed, open, fibrous; inner coats whitish, cells contorted, walls very sinuous. Leaves green at anthesis, persistent, 3-6, basally sheathing; blade solid, flat, channeled, 10-40 cm × 1-4 mm, margins entire. Scape persistent, often 2 or more successively produced from single bulb, erect, ± terete, 10-45 cm × 1-4 mm. Umbel persistent, erect, loose, usually 10-25-flowered, hemispheric-globose, bulbils unknown; spathe bracts persistent, usually 3, 3-7-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate. Flowers urceolate, 5-7 mm; tepals erect, white with pinkish midribs, aging to pink, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming callous-keeled and permanently investing capsule, margins entire, apex obtuse or even emarginate to acute; stamens ± equaling tepals; anthers yellow; pollen yellow; ovary crestless; style linear, equaling stamens; stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurely lobed; pedicel 8-28 mm, elongating in fruit. Seed coat shining; cells smooth. 2n = 14.

Flowering Mar--Apr. Sandy soils, Rio Grande plains; 10--200 m; Tex. Allium runyonii is known only from extreme southern Texas.