Flora of North America species comparison

1–3, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, globose to ovate, 0.6–2 × 0.5–1.5 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers;

inner coats white, lacking cellular reticulation.

1–4+, rhizomes, if present, secondary, inconspicuous, 2 cm or less including renewal bulb, ± thick, terminated by new bulb, parent bulbs disappearing by anthesis except for still-functional roots and bulb coat, not basally clustered, ovoid, 1–2 × 0.8–1.5 cm;

outer coats enclosing renewal bulbs or not, grayish or brownish, with or without obscure, delicate, cellular markings, sometimes striate, membranous, cells elongate, in regular vertical rows, without fibers;

inner bulb coats whitish or pinkish, cells obscure, ± quadrate or rectangular and vertically elongate.

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

blade solid, flat or channeled, ± falcate, 12–38 cm × 2–3 mm, margins entire.

persistent, green at anthesis, 2–5, basally sheathing, sheaths not extended much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat, channeled, 10–21 cm × 1–3 mm, margins and veins sometimes denticulate.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, ± terete, not expanded proximal to inflorescence, 9–32 cm × 0.5–4 mm.

persistent, solitary, occasionally 2 or more produced successively from single bulb, erect, solid, terete, 15–30 cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, erect, loose, 10–20-flowered, globose, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3–7-veined, lanceolate to lance-ovate, ± equal, apex abruptly acute.

persistent, erect, loose, 5–20-flowered, conic, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3–5-veined, lanceolate, apex acuminate.

campanulate, 5–7 mm;

tepals spreading, white or pinkish with prominent red midveins, narrowly lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex acuminate;

stamens equaling tepals or exserted;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

processes 3, thick, obtuse, margins entire;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 5–20 mm.

stellate to campanulate, 4–8 mm;

tepals ± spreading, white or pale pink (particularly on midribs), lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery and withering in fruit, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate;

stamens included;

anthers yellow or purple;

pollen yellow;

ovary crestless;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed;

pedicel unequal, 10–20 mm.

coat dull;

cells ± smooth.

coat dull;

cells ± smooth.

= 14.

= 14.