Flora of North America species comparison

1–6+, replaced annually with new bulbs borne terminally on rhizomes;

rhizomes 1–2, secondary, short;

parent bulb disappearing by anthesis except for still-functional roots and shriveled bulb coat, oblique-ovoid, 1–2 × 0.8–1.8 cm;

outer coats not or only partially enclosing bulbs, brown to gray-brown, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells very obscurely quadrate or not visible.

1–5+, without cluster of basal bulbels, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ± globose, 0.5–1.2 × 0.5–1 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish, membranous, reticulate;

cells very fine, often obscure, narrow, ± transversely elongate, intricately contorted, without fibers;

inner coats white to pink, cells obscure, transversely elongate, intricately contorted.

usually deciduous with scape, withering from tip at anthesis, (1–)2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat, falcate, 10–33 cm × 1.5–10 mm, margins sometimes minutely denticulate.

usually persistent, withering from tip by anthesis, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat, ± falcate, linear, channeled, 7–24 cm × 0.5–3 mm, margins entire.

usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, ± erect, solid, flattened, winged distally, wings frequently crenulate proximal to umbel, 5–15 cm × 1–5 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete or slightly flattened to very narrowly winged, 3–15 cm × 0.5–2 mm.

persistent, erect, compact, 10–25-flowered, conic to hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

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

persistent, erect, compact, 10–20-flowered, hemispheric to globose, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 4–6-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

campanulate, 6–12 mm;

tepals erect, pinkish with deeper pink midveins, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex acute;

stamens included;

anthers yellow or purple;

pollen yellow;

ovary obscurely crested;

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

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 6–16 mm.

campanulate, 5–8 mm;

tepals erect, white with prominent greenish or pink midribs, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse to acuminate, ± involute at tip;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crestless or obscurely crested;

processes 3, low, rounded, margins entire;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed;

pedicel 3–10 mm.

coat shining;

cells smooth.

coat dull or shining;

cells smooth.

= 14.

= 14.