Flora of North America species comparison

solitary, not basally clustered, replaced annually by new bulbs borne terminally on rhizome;

rhizomes 1–3, conspicuous, slender, 2–3 cm, scaly;

parent bulbs persisting, often not collected, oblique-ovoid, 1–2.5 × 1 cm;

outer coats enclosing parent bulbs, grayish, lacking cellular reticulation, membranous, without fibers;

inner coats white or hyaline, cells obscure, ± quadrate.

generally 2–5+, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid, 1–2 × 0.8–1.8 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brownish, membranous, prominently cellular-reticulate, cells irregularly arranged, ± transversely elongate, curved, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells obscure, ± transversely elongate, irregularly arranged, curved.

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

blade solid, flat, not falcate, 20–35 cm × 2–3 mm, margins entire.

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

blade solid, flat or broadly channeled, ± falcate, 12–20 cm × 1–3.5 mm, margins entire.

solitary, erect, solid, terete, 20–30 cm × 1–3 mm.

usually forming abcission layer and deciduous with leaves after seeds mature, frequently breaking at this level after pressing, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 2–7 cm × 0.5–1.5 mm.

persistent, erect, loose, 5–15(–22)-flowered, globose to hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 3-veined, ovate to lance-ovate, ± equal, apex acute.

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

spathe bracts persistent, (2–)3(–4), 4–5-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex abruptly acuminate to apiculate.

stellate, 6–9 mm;

tepals erect, pink with purplish or pinkish midveins, oblong to lanceolate, slightly carinate basally, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex acute to acuminate;

stamens included;

anthers yellow or pink;

pollen yellow or white;

ovary crestless, 3-grooved with thickened ridge on either side of groove;

style linear, shorter than stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 10–20(–50) mm.

campanulate, 6.5–8 mm;

tepals erect, white to pink with dark pink or purplish midvein, lanceolate to ± elliptic, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex acute;

stamens included;

anthers purple;

pollen gray;

ovary crested;

processes 3, acute, ± lateral, margins entire;

style linear, shorter than stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 6–9 mm.

coat shining;

cells smooth.

coat dull;

cells ± smooth.

= 28.

= 14.