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.

solitary, not basally clustered, replaced annually by new bulbs borne terminally on rhizome;

rhizomes 1–3, conspicuous, slender, 2–3 cm, scaly;

parent bulbs persisting, often not collected, oblique-ovoid, 1–2.5 × 1 cm;

outer coats enclosing parent bulbs, grayish, lacking cellular reticulation, membranous, without fibers;

inner coats white or hyaline, cells obscure, ± 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, green at anthesis, 2–3, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat, not falcate, 20–35 cm × 2–3 mm, margins entire.

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

solitary, erect, solid, terete, 20–30 cm × 1–3 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, loose, 5–15(–22)-flowered, globose to hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3-veined, ovate to lance-ovate, ± equal, apex acute.

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, 6–9 mm;

tepals erect, pink with purplish or pinkish midveins, oblong to lanceolate, slightly carinate basally, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate;

stamens included;

anthers yellow or pink;

pollen yellow or white;

ovary crestless, 3-grooved with thickened ridge on either side of groove;

style linear, shorter than stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 10–20(–50) mm.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

coat shining;

cells smooth.

= 14, 21, 28.

= 28.