Definition

Noun A species of wild onion native to western North America, characterized by a pronounced onion scent, a cluster (umbel) of pink flowers at the top of a leafless stem (scape), and a bulb that is often covered in a fibrous mesh. Its common names include Hooker's onion or tapertip onion.

Usage

• The allium acuminatum is a perennial plant that blooms in late spring and early summer.
• Botanists study the distribution of allium acuminatum across its range from British Columbia to Arizona.
• The bulb of allium acuminatum was traditionally used as a food source by some Indigenous peoples.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical classification, Allium acuminatum belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family.
• The specific epithet "" refers to the tapering (acuminate) shape of the flower's inner tepals.

Variants and Related Words

• Hooker's onion: A common name for this species.
• Tapertip onion: Another common name, describing the shape of its flower parts.
• Allium: The genus to which this species belongs, which includes cultivated onions, garlic, and chives.

Synonyms

• Wild onion (general term for uncultivated species)

Different Meanings

• This term has only one specific meaning as a proper noun referring to this distinct botanical species. It is not used idiomatically or in phrasal verbs.

Noun

1. a common North American wild onion with a strong onion odor and an umbel of pink flowers atop a leafless stalk; British Columbia to California and Arizona and east to Wyoming and Colorado