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.

1–3, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to subglobose, 1–2 × 0.9–1.7 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown to yellow-brown or gray, membranous, ± prominently cellular-reticulate, cells in ± regular vertical rows, narrowly rectangular, transversely elongate, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells obscure, narrowly rectangular, transversely elongate, or quadrate.

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 deciduous with scape, green or withering only at tip at anthesis, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat, falcate, 9–18 cm × 2–3 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.

usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, erect, solid, ± flattened, not winged, 3–10 cm × 1–2 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, 6–20-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 6–9-veined, lanceolate to ovate, ± equal, apex acute to abruptly 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.

narrowly campanulate, 6–13 mm;

tepals erect, white to pinkish with narrow to very broad, purple midvein, oblong-lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery, investing capsule in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse;

stamens included;

anthers light yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

processes 3, central, low, rounded, broad, margins entire;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 5–11 mm.

coat shining;

cells smooth.

coat dull;

cells smooth.

= 14.

= 14.