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.

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

outer coats enclosing single bulb, ± reddish brown, membranous, striations fine, cells narrow, elongate, vertical;

inner coats deep red to white, finely striate, cells narrow, vertically elongate.

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.

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

blade solid, terete, 3-angled, 15–30 cm × 1–4 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, 1–2, clustered, erect, solid, slightly compressed, 10–40 cm × 1–3 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, 10–30-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2–4, 2–3-veined, ovate-lanceolate, ± equal, apex obtuse.

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, 6–8 mm;

tepals erect, white to rose, with darker midvein, broadly ovate to lance-ovate, ± equal, becoming rigid and permanently investing capsule, margins entire, apex acute;

stamens included;

anthers white;

pollen white to dark gray;

ovary crested;

processes 6, rounded, short, densely papillose;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 1–2 cm.

coat shining;

cells smooth.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

= 14.

= 14.