Allium lacunosum var. davisiae
Davis' pitted onion
Photo: parent species Allium lacunosum · (c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Alliaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Allium lacunosum var. davisiae (Davis' pitted onion) is a native California herb in the Alliaceae family, recognized by open inflorescence with long pedicels and medium-sized flowers.
Davis' pitted onion is a California native perennial found in the western Transverse Ranges, San Bernardino Mountains, southern eastern Sierra Nevada, and eastern Mojave Desert regions on open, sandy slopes and ridges at elevations of 600 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from April to May, this plant produces small white to pale pink flowers in open clusters with 10 to 35 individual blooms. Growing with slender stems reaching 15 to 30 centimeters tall, it emerges from underground bulbs with a delicate, clumped growth habit. Its leaves are narrow and grass-like, typically appearing early in the growing season before drying out as temperatures rise. The flower clusters are subtended by two distinctive bracts, with individual flower pedicels 10 to 25 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 29 sympatric species; distinguished by open inflorescence with long pedicels and medium-sized flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Open, sandy slopes, ridges
Elevation: 600-2100 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Ventura, San Diego, Inyo
Bloom period
Allium lacunosum var. davisiae blooms Apr-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Triteleia: Allium smells like onion when crushed; triplet lily has no smell.; vs Agapanthus: Allium smells like onion; lily-of-the-Nile has no smell and much larger flowers.; vs Dipterostemon: Allium smells like onion when crushed; ookow has no onion smell.; vs Nothoscordum: Allium smells like onion when crushed; false garlic has no smell.; vs Tulbaghia: Allium has flowers in tight umbels; society garlic has flowers in loose open clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Allium lacunosum var. davisiae native to California?
Yes. Allium lacunosum var. davisiae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Allium lacunosum var. davisiae bloom?
Allium lacunosum var. davisiae blooms Apr-May.
Where in California does Allium lacunosum var. davisiae grow?
Allium lacunosum var. davisiae occurs in San Bernardino, Kern, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Ventura, San Diego, Inyo, at elevations of 600-2100 m.
What plant family does Allium lacunosum var. davisiae belong to?
Allium lacunosum var. davisiae is in the Alliaceae family, genus Allium.
What habitat does Allium lacunosum var. davisiae grow in?
Allium lacunosum var. davisiae grows in Uncommon. Open, sandy slopes, ridges.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.