UW Burke Herbarium species comparison

Basal leaves stiff, narrowly linear, 5-9 dm. long and 10-15 mm. broad;

cauline leaves reduced upward.

Leaves mostly basal, narrowly linear, up to 4 dm. long and 2-6 mm. broad;

cauline leave few, reduced upward.

Inflorescence branched, few to several flowered, 1.5-5 dm. long;

flowers pale to deep yellow, purple-lined; pedicles up to 5 cm. long;

perianth parts fused in a tube at the base, the tube about about 12 mm. long;

sepals 3, obovate, spreading, about 5 cm. long;

petals 3, much shorter and narrower than the sepals, upright;

stamens 3, opposite the sepals;

style branches 3, about 22 mm. long, with 2 terminal lobes less than as long;

stigma triangular;

ovary inferior.

Flowers usually solitary, lavender or blue to purple, but occasionally white to yellow or pinkish, subtended by a pair of involucral leaves which may be 2 cm. apart;

pedicels 1-4 cm. long;

perianth parts fused in a tube at the base, the tube 6-10 mm. long;

sepals 3, oblanceolate to obovate, 5.5-6.5 cm. long, spreading;

petals 3, oblanceolate, 3.5-6 cm. long, erect;

style branches 25-30 mm. long with 2 terminal lobes 8-12 mm. long;

stigmas triangular;

ovary inferior.

Capsule 3-celled, leathery, 5-8 cm. long.

Capsule 3-celled, leathery, 25-35 mm. long.