Flora of North America species comparison

2–5+, clustered, often short-rhizomatous at base, rhizome not stout or iris-like, oblong, elongate, 1–3 × 0.8–1.5 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, grayish or brownish, membranous, minutely striate, cells in regular vertical rows, narrowly elongate, fibers persistent, parallel, few;

inner coats white to pink or reddish, cells in regular vertical rows, narrowly elongate.

1–3(–5), not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid, 1–2 × 1–2 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, prominently cellular-reticulate, membranous, accumulating and investing bulb with thick cover, cells square, polygonal, or ± transversely elongate, walls thick, sinuous, without fibers;

inner coats white to light brown, cells ± obscure, quadrate.

persistent, green at anthesis, 3–5, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil level;

blade solid, flat, channeled to broadly V-shaped in cross section, 10–25 cm × 1–6 mm, margins entire or denticulate.

persistent, withering from tip at anthesis, 2–3, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flattened, subterete or ± channeled and carinate, ± falcate, 10–30 cm × 0.5–3 mm, margins entire.

persistent, sometimes 2 or more produced successively from single bulb, usually clustered, nodding, solid, terete or ridged, particularly distally, sometimes flattened and narrowly winged, abruptly recurved near apex, 10–50 cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 10–35 cm × 1–4 mm.

persistent, cernuous, loose, 8–35-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate, beakless.

persistent, erect, compact or loose, 5–45-flowered, bulbils unknown, umbel shattering after seeds mature, each flower deciduous with its pedicel;

spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 4–6-veined, lance-ovate to ovate, ± equal, apex obtuse or acuminate.

campanulate, 4–6 mm;

tepals ± erect, pink or white, elliptic-ovate, ± equal, withering in fruit, margins ± entire, apex ± obtuse, at least outer tepals strongly incurved, midribs not thickened;

stamens exserted;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary conspicuously crested;

processes 6, flattened, ± triangular, margins entire or toothed;

style exserted, linear, ± equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 6–25 mm, becoming stouter in fruit, elongating and bending abruptly upward from near point of attachment.

campanulate, 4–9 mm;

tepals erect or spreading from base, white to deep pink with darker midveins, lance-ovate to ovate, ± equal, margins entire, apex obtuse, acute, or short-acuminate;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary 3-grooved with ridge on either side of each groove, ridges prolonged into crest, ridges and crest densely covered with minute, rounded papillae;

processes 3, central, 2-lobed, minute;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, obscurely 3-lobed;

pedicel 4–30 mm.

coat dull or shining;

cells smooth, minutely roughened, or each with minute, central papilla.

coat dull or shining;

cells minutely roughened.

= 14.