Flora of North America species comparison

1–3+, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, rhizomes absent, renewal bulbs formed within coats of parent bulb, increase bulbs absent or 1–2, ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, ovoid, 1–2 cm × 8–15 mm;

outer coats grayish to brownish, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells absent or ± quadrate.

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.

usually deciduous with scape, 2, basally sheathing, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat, strongly falcate, 5–18 cm × 1–2 mm, margins entire.

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

blade solid, flat, channeled, 10–40 cm × 1–4 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, slightly 2-edged, 3–7 cm × 1–3 mm.

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

deciduous with scape, erect, compact, 5–12-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 5–8-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex abruptly acute.

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

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

campanulate, 7–9 mm;

tepals erect, white to pale pink with red midribs, oblong, ± equal, becoming papery and not carinate in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse;

stamens included;

anthers purple;

pollen gray or yellow;

ovary ± distinctly crested;

processes 3 or 6, central, low, rounded, margins entire;

style included, linear;

stigma capitate, unlobed;

pedicel 3–12 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 dull;

cells smooth.

coat shining;, cells smooth.

= 14.

= 14.