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Post by stevil on Nov 29, 2009 7:45:52 GMT -5
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Post by flowerpower on Nov 30, 2009 5:26:49 GMT -5
Wow, that is really pretty. I just looked to see if it grows in NY. It doesn't.  There was no need to import grass or grain here during the Revolutionary War. NY had excessive amts of crops. "The Yorktown Onion is protected by law, as Section 17-35, Subsection B, of the York County Code states that "Gathering or collecting the Yorktown Onion shall be prohibited". I guess that means it is on the threatened or endangered list. If the bulbs came to Virginia by accident, shouldn't there be a similar one in the UK maybe? They imported the feed from somewhere. |
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Post by stevil on Nov 30, 2009 10:26:34 GMT -5
Allium ampeloprasum is certainly an old world species and has naturalised on a small scale in quite a few states: plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ALAM It's also a local rare species in the UK - the subspecies Babington's Leek - which supposedly escaped from monastery gardens in the past. I don't think it's likely to have come to the US from the UK wild populations; Babington's Leek has pinkish flowers and has bulbils (I don't think the Yorktown variety has). It's only truly wild in France, the Mediterranean countries, the Middle East and Caucasus. It is a very variable species with regional cultivated varieties from Pearl Onions, Oerprei (Netherlands and Belgium), Kurrat (Egypt and Lebanon) and the similar Taree Irani (Persian Chives) found in Iran and Afghanistan. However, none of the ones I've seen so far have these beautiful dark coloured flowers. It would make a nice addition to the Edimental garden I think! Worth tracking down... |
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Post by plantsnobin on Nov 30, 2009 11:05:09 GMT -5
It's a little weird that a county would protect a species that isn't native to the area, but that is beside the point I guess. It is a very pretty color that I would love to have in my garden. Stevil, just wanted to let you know that the A. thunbergii has finally ripened seeds and I have some packaged for you. I also have a few others that I rec'd that I would like to share with you if you want them-atroviolaceum, atrosanguineum var. atrosanguineum, rubens, fuscoviolaceum, giganteum, condensatum & caesium. I can send them out this week if you let me know that you want them. Karen
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Post by flowerpower on Dec 1, 2009 4:56:59 GMT -5
The USDA site lists NY as a state where it grows. According to the "Checklist of NY State Plants" 1986, it is a Rare Escape- a non native species which is no longer known to persist. They do refer to it as a Leek. But wouldn't "escape" mean it was garden or farm grown at some point?
NY will list sightings of rare plants, even if it is unconfirmed. I have to find the other book I got from the State Museum. That would list the county where it may have been spotted. It is strange that it would be protected as a non native species. Maybe it has some historical signifignce in Virginia.
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There was no need to import grass or grain here during the Revolutionary War. NY had excessive amts of crops. 