Allium drummondii
Encyclopedia
Drummond's onion also known as Wild garlic and the Prairie onion, is a perennial plant native to North America
. It is utilized by a number of Native American tribes ranging from the South Texas Plains
, over to New Mexico
and then into California
. The lovely white flowers come into bloom April through May coming in a variety of colors ranging from white to pink. Seemingly a rather nice flowering species, Allium drummondii is quite an invasive fellow.
is gathered by Natives for its small edible bulbs. Drummond's Onion contains a considerable amount of inulin
, a non-reducing sugar that humans cannot digest. Because of this, these onions must be heated for a long period of time in order to convert the inulin into digestible sugars. Tribes of the Texas and New Mexico area used the onion as an addition to meat dishes, whereas some tribes in California often used it as a main dish.
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. It is utilized by a number of Native American tribes ranging from the South Texas Plains
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, over to New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and then into California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The lovely white flowers come into bloom April through May coming in a variety of colors ranging from white to pink. Seemingly a rather nice flowering species, Allium drummondii is quite an invasive fellow.
Uses
This species of AlliumAllium
Allium is a monocot genus of flowering plants, informally referred to as the onion genus. The generic name Allium is the Latin word for garlic....
is gathered by Natives for its small edible bulbs. Drummond's Onion contains a considerable amount of inulin
Inulin
Inulins are a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides produced by many types of plants. They belong to a class of fibers known as fructans. Inulin is used by some plants as a means of storing energy and is typically found in roots or rhizomes...
, a non-reducing sugar that humans cannot digest. Because of this, these onions must be heated for a long period of time in order to convert the inulin into digestible sugars. Tribes of the Texas and New Mexico area used the onion as an addition to meat dishes, whereas some tribes in California often used it as a main dish.