Flora of North America species comparison

2–10+, not rhizomatous, ovoid or more elongate, 1–2.5 × 0.8–2 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, gray or brown, reticulate, cells rather coarse-meshed, open, fibrous;

inner coats whitish, cells vertically elongate and regular or obscure.

1–3+, variable, some with poorly developed bulbs, others ovoid with 1–2 large bulbs and several yellowish to light brown bulbels at base, 0.4–1(–3) × 0.4–1(–1.5) cm;

outer coat enclosing 1 or more bulbs, yellowish, membranous;

inner coats white to light brown, cells not evident, fibers ± parallel, few.

persistent, usually green at anthesis, usually 3–5, sheathing less than 1/4 scape;

blade solid, ± straight, flat, channeled, (6–)12–30 cm × 1–3(–5) mm, margins entire or denticulate.

withering from tips by anthesis, 6–9, sheathing 1/3–1/2 scape;

blade solid, flat, channeled, 1–5 cm × 2–20(–30) mm, margins scabrid.

persistent, solitary, erect, terete or somewhat 2-angled, 10–50 cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, fistulose, terete, 45–180 cm × 3–7 mm.

persistent, erect, compact, 10–25-flowered, hemispheric to globose, not producing bulbils, or 0–5-flowered, largely replaced by ovoid, acuminate bulbils;

spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, mostly 1-veined, ovate to lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate, beakless.

persistent, erect, compact, to 500-flowered, few-flowered in variants with bulbils, globose;

spathe bracts persistent, 3–5, 2–3-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex abruptly narrowed to beak, beak to 10 cm.

urceolate-campanulate, (4–)6–8(–10) mm;

tepals erect or spreading, pink to white, ovate to lanceolate, ± equal, not withering in fruit and permanently investing fruit, or withering if fruit not produced, midribs papillose, becoming callous-keeled, margins often obscurely toothed, apex obtuse to acuminate;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary when present, inconspicuously crested;

processes 6, central, low, distinct or connate in pairs across septa, ± erect, rounded, margins entire, becoming variously developed or obsolete in fruit;

style linear, ± equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurely lobed;

pedicel becoming rigid and stiffly spreading in fruit, 8–13 mm.

urceolate, 4–5.5 mm;

tepals erect, white, pink, or dark red, unequal, becoming papery and investing capsule in fruit;

outer tepal oblong-lanceolate, margins entire, apex obtuse, sometimes mucronate;

inner tepal narrowly ovate to spatulate, margins entire, apex obtuse;

stamens equaling perianth or exserted;

outer filaments simple, inner with 2 prominent lateral teeth that exceed anther-bearing portion, glabrous;

anthers yellow or purple;

pollen yellow;

ovary crestless;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 15–50 mm.

coat shining;

cells each with minute, central papilla.

coat not known.