ILLINOIS PLANT INFORMATION NETWORK
 
 ILPIN INFORMATION ON    Allium cepa
 
 
 CLASS:    MONOCOTYLEDENAE
 ORDER:    LILIALES
 FAMILY:   LILIACEAE
 SCIENTIFIC NAME:  Allium cepa
 AUTHORITY:  L.
 
 COMMON NAMES:
    ONION
 
 SYNONOMY:   None
 
 PLANTS CODE: ALCE
 
 NATURAL COMMUNITIES:
     CULTURAL
       DEVELOPED LAND
 
 
 SAF FOREST COVER TYPE:
     NO
 
 NATURAL DIVISION:  UNAVAILABLE
 
 COUNTIES:
   UNION
 
 GROWTH FORM:  Monocot
 
 TAXONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS:
    ROOTS:  Adventitious   (bulbs)
    LEAF ARRANGEMENT:    Basal
    LEAF TYPE:   Simple
    LEAF MARGIN:   Entire
    LEAF VENATION:  Parallel
    LEAF SHAPE:     Linear   Oblong   Lanceolate
    INFLORESCENCE:   Umbel
    FLOWER MEROUS:  3
    FLOWER STRUCTURE:   Complete   Regular
    FLOWER COLOR:   Green   White
    FLOWER PLACEMENT:  Hypogynous
    FRUIT:   Capsule
 
 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
     ORIGIN:   Introduced-  Asia
 
 GEOGRAPHIC COMMENTS:
     Species is native of southwest Asia; found only in Union co.
 
 POPULATION DYNAMICS:
     STATE STATUS: Not listed
     FEDERAL STATUS: Not listed
     COMMONNESS:  Rare
     ENDEMIC:   NOT-ENDEMIC
 POPULATION STATUS COMMENTS:
     Species is rarely adventive after escaping.
 
 
 BIOLOGIC:
     HABIT:   Forb
     LIFE CYCLE:   Perennial
     REPRODUCTION:   Sexual   Vegetative
     FLOWERING PERIOD:
         MONTH BEGINNING-      5         MONTH END-      8
     TROPHIC STATUS:  Autotrophic
     SEX:      Perfect
 
 BIOLOGIC COMMENTS:
     There is occasional development of bulblets in place of flowers in umbel.
 
 ECODISTRIBUTION COMMENTS:
     Species is distributed in waste places.
 
 ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS:   No data entered
 
 FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS:    No data entered
 HUMAN RELATIONSHIP DATA:
     EDIBLE:  Yes-qualified
 
 
 HUMAN FACTOR COMMENTS:
     Moderate or large amounts of raw or cooked onions in diet
     provoke severe anemia.
 
 WILDLIFE AND LIVESTOCK INFORMATION:   No data entered
 
 LIVESTOCK COMMENTS:
     Occasional reports of poisoning in horses may be due to ingestion of partly
     decayed bulbs; Ingestion or inhalation of volatiles may flavor milk
     (Muenscher); has poisoned cattle and dogs in experimental feedings
     (Stephens).
 
 REVEGETATION PLANTINGS:    No data entered
 
 
 REFERENCES:
Mohlenbrock, R. H., ed.  1975.  Guide to the vascular flora of Illinois.
     Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale.  494 pp.
Steyermark, J. A.  1963.  Flora of Missouri.  Iowa State University Press, Ames.
     1725 pp.
Gleason, H. A.  1952.  The new Britton and Brown illustrated flora of the
     northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.  3 vols.  The New York
     Botanical Garden, New York.
Fernald, M. L., A. C. Kinsey, and R. C. Rollins.  1958.  Edible wild plants of
     eastern North America.  Harper and Brothers, New York.  452 pp.
 
 OTHER REFERENCES:
     Muenscher, W.C.L. 1939. Poisonous Plants of the United States.
          The Macmillan Co. N.Y., N.Y. 266 pp.
     Stephens, H.A. 1980. Poisonous Plants of the Central United States.
          Regent Press of Kansas. Lawrence, KA. 165 pp.
 
 END OF DATA FOR SPECIES  Allium cepa
 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ILPIN was developed by Louis Iverson*, with data compiled by David Ketzner and Jeanne Karnes
 Illinois Natural History Survey, 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820
     *currently employed by USDA Forest Service, 359 Main Rd., Delaware, OH 43015