Flora of North America species comparison

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.

1–3, bearing cluster of short-stalked, basal bulbels, ovoid, 1.2–2 × 1.2–2 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish, reticulate, cells very coarse-meshed, open, fibrous;

inner coats whitish, cells contorted, walls very sinuous.

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.

green at anthesis, persistent, 3–6, basally sheathing;

blade solid, flat, channeled, 10–40 cm × 1–4 mm, margins entire.

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

persistent, often 2 or more successively produced from single bulb, erect, ± terete, 10–45 cm × 1–4 mm.

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.

persistent, erect, loose, usually 10–25-flowered, hemispheric-globose, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, usually 3, 3–7-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

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.

urceolate, 5–7 mm;

tepals erect, white with pinkish midribs, aging to pink, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming callous-keeled and permanently investing capsule, margins entire, apex obtuse or even emarginate to acute;

stamens ± equaling tepals;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crestless;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurelylobed, pedicel 8–28 mm, elongating in fruit.

coat shining;

cells minutely roughened.

coat shining;, cells smooth.

= 14.

= 14.