Flora of North America species comparison

1–3, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to subglobose, 1–2 × 0.9–1.7 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown to yellow-brown or gray, membranous, ± prominently cellular-reticulate, cells in ± regular vertical rows, narrowly rectangular, transversely elongate, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells obscure, narrowly rectangular, transversely elongate, or quadrate.

1–5+, not rhizomatous, ovoid, 1–5 × 1–2 cm;

outer coats usually enclosing single bulb, grayish or brownish, reticulate, cells very fine-meshed, open;

inner coats whitish, cells vertically elongate, regular.

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

blade solid, flat, falcate, 9–18 cm × 2–3 mm, margins entire.

persistent, green at anthesis, 3+, sheathing;

blade solid, flat, channeled, 10–30 cm × 1–2 mm, margins entire.

usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, erect, solid, ± flattened, not winged, 3–10 cm × 1–2 mm.

persistent, solitary (sometimes 2 in cultivated plants), erect, terete, 20–30 cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, erect, ± compact, 6–20-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 6–9-veined, lanceolate to ovate, ± equal, apex acute to abruptly acuminate.

persistent, erect, compact, 10–15-flowered, hemispheric-globose, bulbels unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 3, usually 1-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex long-acuminate.

narrowly campanulate, 6–13 mm;

tepals erect, white to pinkish with narrow to very broad, purple midvein, oblong-lanceolate, ± equal, becoming papery, investing capsule in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse;

stamens included;

anthers light yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

processes 3, central, low, rounded, broad, margins entire;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 5–11 mm.

± campanulate, 5–6 mm;

tepals widely spreading, pinkish, elliptic, ± equal, remaining thin and withering over ovary, margins entire, apex obtuse, involute at tip;

stamens included;

anthers light yellow;

pollen white to light yellow;

ovary crested;

processes 6, central, horizontally spreading, flattened, triangular, margins entire;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, obscurely 3-lobed;

pedicel 9–20 mm.

coat dull;

cells smooth.

coat shining;

cells each with minute, central papilla.

= 14.

= 14.