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.

1–5, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, increase bulbs absent or ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, rhizomes absent, ovoid, 0.8–2 × 0.8–2 cm;

outer coats enclosing renewal bulbs, grayish to brown, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers;

inner coats pink to red, cells obscure, ± quadrate, or not visible.

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.

usually deciduous with scape, withering from tip at anthesis, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat, falcate, 8–18 cm × 3–5 mm, margins entire.

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

usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, erect, solid, flattened, winged distally, wing margins commonly minutely serrulate proximal to umbel, 3–8 cm × 1–4 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, 10–35-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 8–10-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex 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.

conic to campanulate, 8–11 mm;

tepals erect, pink, usually with darker pink midveins, lanceolate to elliptic, ± equal, becoming membranous and rigid in fruit, outer margins entire, inner margins usually minutely denticulate distally, apex obtuse, margins becoming ± involute, appearing acuminate in age;

stamens included;

anthers yellow to light purple;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

processes 3, central, 2-lobed, minute, margins entire;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 5–16 mm.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

coat shining;

cells smooth.

= 14, 21, 28.

= 14.