Flora of North America species comparison

1–5+, not clustered on stout primary rhizomes, renewal bulbs formed within coats of parent bulb, ovoid, 2–3 × 1.4–2.5 cm, increase bulbs ± equaling parent bulbs, rhizomes absent;

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

inner coats white, cells obscure, quadrate to rectangular, or not visible.

2–20+, clustered on thick, iris-like rhizome, elongate, 2–5 × 1–2.5 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish, membranous, minutely striate, cells in regular vertical rows, elongate, not fibrous-reticulate, fibers persistent, parallel, few, coarse;

inner coats reddish purple or whitish, minutely striate, cells in regular vertical rows, elongate.

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

blade solid, flat, falcate, 10–30-cm × 8–18 mm, margins entire.

persistent, green at anthesis, 3–6, sheathing basally, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat, 20–70(–80) cm × 4–15 mm, margins entire.

usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, erect, solid, strongly flattened, winged distally, 7–25 cm × 2–7 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, flattened and narrowly winged distally, 30–70 cm × 2–7 mm.

persistent, erect, loose, 30–90-flowered, globose, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2–5, 10–15-veined, lanceolate to broadly ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

persistent, erect, compact, 15–30-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3–5-veined, broadly ovate, ± equal, apex acute.

stellate, 8–15 mm;

tepals spreading, bright pink to rose, narrowly lanceolate, ± equal, becoming erect, rigid, constricted distal to ovary in fruit, margins entire, apex long-acuminate;

stamens exserted;

anthers yellow;

pollen gray;

ovary crestless;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed, apex acute;

pedicel 10–25 mm.

± campanulate, 8–10 mm;

tepals erect to ± spreading, pink, narrowly lanceolate, ± equal, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex acuminate, midribs scarcely thickened;

stamens exerted;

anthers yellow or purple;

pollen yellow;

ovary crestless;

style exserted, linear, longer than stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed;

pedicel 10–15 mm, elongating and becoming stout in fruit.

coat dull or shining;

cells smooth.

coat dull;

cells smooth or minutely roughened.

= 14.

= 28, 56.