Allium henryi is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, belonging to the genus Allium, which includes onions, garlic, and related species. The species was named in honor of the botanist Augustine Henry.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Monocots
- Order: Asparagales
- Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Subfamily: Allioideae
- Genus: Allium
- Species: Allium henryi
Description
Allium henryi is a perennial, bulb-forming herb. Like other members of the genus, it produces an underground storage bulb from which a single or few leafless flowering stems (scapes) arise. The scapes bear an umbel of small, typically white to pale pink flowers, each with six tepals and a characteristic central ovary. Detailed morphological measurements (e.g., bulb size, flower dimensions) are not widely published in accessible sources.
Distribution and Habitat
The species is native to China, with confirmed occurrences in the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan. It grows in mountainous regions, often on forest margins, grassy slopes, or open rocky habitats at mid‑elevations. Specific altitude ranges and ecological preferences have not been extensively documented in the primary literature available to this entry.
Conservation Status
There is insufficient publicly available information to assess the conservation status of Allium henryi on a global scale. It has not been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, and regional assessments are limited.
Uses
No widely reported economic, culinary, or medicinal uses for Allium henryi have been documented in major botanical references.
Etymology
The specific epithet henryi commemorates Augustine Henry (1857–1930), an Irish botanist and plant collector who contributed significantly to the knowledge of Chinese flora.
References
- Kew Science – Plants of the World Online. Entry for Allium henryi.
- The International Plant Names Index (IPNI).
Note: The information presented reflects currently available, verifiable sources. Where data are lacking or uncertain, the entry acknowledges the limitations.