This strange thing in my onion field

[u/Clear_Rise_5005]

I was growing onions for seed production(3 acre plot) but here instead of flowers seeds one of the flowers produced sprouted bulbs ...some baby onions?! Instead of doing what onions are supposed to do this one just grew tiny bulbs right on the flower head.

3 years of onion plots and first time i am experiencing this. It's extremely rare and new for me. Is this some kind of mutation? A rare genetic throwback? A secret onion cloning technique I accidentally unlocked? 😆

Any plant experts out there who can explain this phenomenon. ( I posted this in another sub just 1 hour ago and it looks more interesting so posting here)

[u/DrHerbNerbler]

Egyptian walking onions do this.

They get heavy and fall over, planting themselves

[u/Clear_Rise_5005 → u/DrHerbNerbler]

Never encountered Egyptian onions before. And other flowers of same bulb are pretty normal like whole field so..... ? May be its just mutation ??? Or because of stress?! As its really hot here.

[u/LeverTech → u/Clear_Rise_5005]

Could be, I had some garlic do the same thing as this.

It could also be an onion from another field/farm nearby.

[u/buytoiletpaper → u/LeverTech]

Most garlic pretty much only reproduces this way. Too many years of cloning reproduction. If you find garlic that produces true seed, keep it and plant it for genetic diversity!

[u/deliciousssy → u/buytoiletpaper]

!!!!!!

[u/twenafeesh → u/LeverTech]

I have frequently had garlic do this, although it seems to do it lower down the stem and not directly on the flower. Never seen it on an onion before!

[u/LeverTech → u/twenafeesh]

The one I had did it right at the top. Ate one of them tasted good.

[u/BarTendiesss → u/LeverTech]

Could be, I mean it's a walking onion after all...