Flora of North America species comparison

1–5+, increase bulbs absent or ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to ± globose, 0.6–1 cm × 6–10 mm;

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

inner coats white, cells not visible or arranged in vertical rows, forming distinct herringbone pattern, ± transversely elongate.

1–6+, not basally clustered, replaced annually by new bulbs borne terminally on rhizomes;

rhizomes 1–3, inconspicuous, slender, less than 2 cm including renewal bulb;

parent bulbs disappearing by anthesis except for still-functional roots and bulb coat, oblique-ovoid to ± oblong, 0.7–1.4 × 0.5–1.2 cm;

outer coats not enclosing bulbs, brown to gray-brown, ± obscurely reticulate, membranous, reticulum delicate, cells transversely elongate, V-shaped or ± wavy, forming obscure herringbone pattern, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells obscure, quadrate to ± rectangular, often contorted.

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

blade solid, subterete or ± channeled, straight to arcuate, 8–30 cm × 1–3 mm, margins entire.

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

blade solid, subterete to ± channeled, 9–30 cm × 1–2 mm, margins entire.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 12–45 cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 10–35 cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, erect, loose, 5–35-flowered, hemispheric to conic, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3–6-veined, lance-ovate to ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

persistent, erect, compact to loose, 10–20-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 4–6-veined, lanceolate to lance-ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

campanulate, 8–15 mm;

tepals erect, reddish purple, lanceolate to elliptic, unequal, outer tepals longer and wider than inner, becoming rigid and ± carinate in fruit, margins entire or inner minutely denticulate, never crisped, apex acute or short-acuminate, inner tepals spreading at tip, outer ± recurved;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

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

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed to distinctly 3-lobed;

pedicel 8–40 mm.

conic to campanulate, 7–14 mm;

tepals erect, reddish purple, rarely white, narrowly lanceolate to lance-ovate, ± equal, becoming rigid and carinate in fruit, margins finely denticulate (inner tepal more prominently so), apex acute to obtuse, becoming involute at tip and appearing acuminate;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

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

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, obscurely 3-lobed, scarcely thickened;

pedicel 10–20 mm.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.