Flora of North America species comparison

1–15+, increase bulbs absent or ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to ± globose, 0.6–1.5 × 0.6–1.3 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, prominently cellular-reticulate, membranous, cells in ± vertical rows, forming irregular herringbone pattern, transversely elongate, V-shaped, without fibers;

inner coats usually dark red, sometimes white to pink, cells obscure, quadrate.

1–3, not rhizomatous, mostly depressed-globose, varying in size from cultivar to cultivar, 5–8 × 3–10 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, yellowish brown, red, or white, membranous, without reticulation;

inner coats white to pink, cells obscure to quadrate.

persistent, withering from tip at anthesis, 2–4, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, subterete or ± channeled, 10–36 cm × 0.5–2 mm, margins entire.

persistent, 4–10, sheathing proximal 1/6–1/4 scape;

blade fistulose, usually ± semicircular in cross section, 10–50 cm × 4–20 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 15–50 cm × 3–5 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, fistulose, inflated below middle, 30–100 cm × 3–20 mm.

shattering after seeds mature, each flower deciduous with its pedicel as a unit, erect, compact, 10–50-flowered, hemispheric, bulbels unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 6–13-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex short-acuminate.

persistent, erect, compact, to 500-flowered, globose, bulbils occasionally found;

spathe bracts caducous, 2–3, 3–4-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acute to acuminate.

stellate, 5–9 mm;

tepals spreading at anthesis, white to pink, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery and connivent over capsule, margins entire, apex acute;

stamens included;

anthers yellow or purple;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

processes 6, lateral, ± prominent, ± rectangular, margins entire;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 4–16 mm.

stellate to campanulate to urceolate, 3–7 mm;

tepals erect to ± spreading, white to pink with greenish midveins, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse or acute, outer ovate, inner oblong;

stamens exserted;

anthers white;

pollen white;

ovary crestless;

style linear, ± equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed;

pedicel 10–50 mm.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

coat not known.

= 14, 21, 28.