Flora of North America species comparison

1–4+, without rhizome, with or without basal bulbels, often clustered, ovoid, 1–2.5 × 0.6–3 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish or grayish, reticulate, cells fine-meshed, open, fibrous;

inner coats whitish, cells vertically elongate, sometimes contorted, walls straight or ± sinuous.

1–3, larger bulbs each bearing 3–10 basal bulbels surrounding roots, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, ovoid, 1–1.5 × 0.8–1.5 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, thin, membranous, lacking reticulation, without persistent fibers;

inner coats whitish, cells vertically elongate or contorted, walls very sinuous.

persistent, green at anthesis, 2–6, basally sheathing, sheaths extending less than 1/4 scape;

blade solid, flat, channeled, not carinate, 20–50 cm × 1–7 mm, margins entire or denticulate, apex acute to obtuse.

persistent, green at anthesis, 3–6, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blades solid, flat, channeled, 15–40 cm × 1–3 mm, margins entire.

persistent, usually solitary, erect, terete, 10–60 cm × 1–5 mm.

persistent, 1–3, clustered, erect, solid, terete, 15–40 cm × 1–4 mm.

persistent, erect, loose, 0–60-flowered, hemispheric to globose, bulbils unknown or flowering pedicels replaced at least in part by bulbils;

spathe bracts persistent, 3–4, 3–7-veined, ovate to lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate, beakless.

persistent, erect, loose, 10–30-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 3–4, 4–5-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

urceolate-campanulate, 4–8 mm;

tepals erect or spreading, white to pink or lavender, lanceolate to elliptic, ± equal, withering in fruit and exposing capsule, midribs somewhat thickened, margins entire, apex obtuse to acute;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary, when present, crestless;

style linear, ± equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurely 3-lobed;

pedicel 8–70 mm.

± stellate to campanulate, 5–6 mm;

tepals erect or ± spreading, ± flexuous, white or pinkish, lanceolate, ± equal, papery and withering away from fruit, margins entire or nearly so, apex obtuse, midribs thickened;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crestless;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed to distinctly lobed;

pedicel 1–2.5 mm, elongating in fruit.

coat shining;

cells each with minute, central papilla.

coat shining;

cells smooth.

= 14.