Flora of North America species comparison

1–5+, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, ovoid, 1–2 × 1–2 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, light brown, membranous, ± reticulate, cells quadrate to polygonal, vertically oblong, without fibers;

inner coats white or pink, cells obscure, quadrate.

1–3, increase bulbs absent or ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to globose, 1–1.8 × 1–1.7 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, gray-brown to brown, prominently cellular-reticulate, membranous, cells arranged in ± vertical rows, forming irregular herringbone pattern, transversely elongate, V-shaped, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells obscure, ± transversely elongate, contorted.

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

blade solid, flat or ± channeled, falcate, 12–25 cm × 2–3 mm, margins entire.

persistent, withering from tip by anthesis, 2–3, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat, broadly channeled, carinate, 20–75 cm × 5–10 mm, margins entire.

persistent, 1–3, erect, solid, terete or somewhat flattened, 2-edged, not expanded proximal to inflorescence, 15–30 cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 20–60 cm × 2–4 mm.

persistent, erect, compact, 10–30-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 5–6-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acute.

shattering after seeds mature, each flower deciduous with its pedicel as a unit, erect, loose, 5–40-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 5–7-veined, lanceolate to lance-ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

campanulate to substellate, 6–8 mm;

tepals spreading, rose-colored, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex acuminate;

stamens ± equaling tepals, or exserted;

anthers blue-gray;

pollen light blue or gray;

ovary distinctly crested;

processes 6, 2 per lobe, low, rounded, margins entire;

style exserted, linear;

stigma capitate, unlobed;

pedicel 8–12 mm.

stellate, 6–13 mm;

tepals spreading at anthesis, white to pale pink with purple midveins, lance-ovate to ovate, ± equal, becoming papery and connivent over capsule, margins entire, apex acute, obtuse, or emarginate;

stamens included;

anthers purple and yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

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

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 15–40 mm.

coat dull;

cells smooth.

coat shining;

cells minutely roughened.

= 14.

= 14.