Flora of North America species comparison

1–3, not clustered on stout, primary rhizome, ovoid, 1–2.5(–3) × 1.2–2 cm;

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

inner coats light brown or white, cells obscurely quadrate.

3–4, not clustered on stout, primary rhizomes, ovoid, asymmetric, 2.5–3 × 2–5 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, light yellow to light brown, thin, papery, chartaceous, cells narrow, vertically elongate, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells narrow, vertically elongate.

persistent, withering from tip by anthesis, 1, basally sheathing, sheath never extending much above soil level;

blade solid, terete, 30–45 cm × 2–4 mm.

usually persistent, 3–6, scarcely ensheathing scape even basally, sheaths not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, flat, broadly channeled, 10–60 cm × 10–25 mm, margins entire.

persistent, solitary, erect, ± solid, terete, 18–60 cm × 2–3 mm.

usually persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, fistulose, 60–100 cm × 5–10 mm.

persistent, erect, compact, 18–190-flowered, hemispheric to globose, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 4, 3-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex long-acuminate.

persistent, erect, compact, 75–150-flowered, hemispheric-globose, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2–4, 11+-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

campanulate, 5–9 mm;

tepals erect, white to pink with darker midveins, unequal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire or irregular to erose, apex acute or acuminate to long-acuminate;

outer tepals lanceolate to ovate, reflexed at tip;

inner 1/4–1/3 longer than outer, ovate to broadly ovate;

stamens exserted;

anthers yellow or purple;

pollen yellow or white;

ovary crested;

processes 6, prominent, erect, ± triangular, margins entire;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, obscurely to distinctly 3-lobed, lobes erect or spreading, ± stout;

pedicel 8–22 mm.

stellate to subcampanulate, 6–9 mm;

tepals ± spreading, white with green midvein, narrowly oblong, ± equal, becoming ± rigid and reflexed in fruiting, margins entire, apex obtuse;

stamens included;

anthers yellow or purple, aborting without producing pollen;

ovary crestless;

style linear, ± equaling tepals;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, obscurely 3-lobed;

pedicel 25–40 mm.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

coat not known.