What is "wild onion"

Onion \On"ion\, n. [F. ognon, fr. L. unio oneness, unity, a single large pearl, an onion. See One, Union.]

1. (Bot.) A liliaceous plant of the genus Allium ( Allium cepa), having a strong-flavored bulb and long hollow leaves; also, its bulbous root, much used as an article of food. The name is often extended to other species of the genus.

2. The flavor of an onion[1].

   Onion fish (Zo["o]l.), the grenadier.

   Onion fly (Zo["o]l.) a dipterous insect whose larva feeds upon the onion; especially, Anthomyia ceparum and Ortalis flexa.

   Welsh onion. (Bot.) See Cibol.

   Wild onion (Bot.), a name given to several species of the genus Allium.

n. any of various plants of the genus Allium with edible bulbs found growing wild

Wild onion can refer to

• any uncultivated species in the genus Allium, especially:
  • Allium bisceptrum
  • Allium canadense
  • Allium validum
  • Allium vineale
  • Allium tricoccum
• Asphodelus tenuifolius
• Cyperus bulbosus
• Bulbine semibarbata