Flora of North America species comparison

1–5+, usually clustered, often short-rhizomatous at base, rhizome not stout or iris-like, ovoid, 2–4 × 1–2.5 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, grayish or brownish, membranous, fibers parallel, few, or sometimes reticulate, cells obscure, finely meshed;

inner coats whitish to pinkish, cells obscure, ± quadrate.

usually 1 of a cluster, sometimes short-rhizomatous basally, elongate, to 5 × 1–1.5 cm;

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

inner coats whitish, cells vertically elongate and regular or obscure.

persistent, green at anthesis, 3–5, basally sheathing, sheaths never extending much above soil level;

blade solid, flat, channeled, 14–35 cm × 1–5 mm, margins ± entire.

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

blade solid, flat, broadly channeled, 25–50 cm × 3–7 mm, margins entire or minutely denticulate.

persistent, solitary, erect, or, if nodding at anthesis, becoming erect, solid, terete or ± 4-angled, particularly distally, 20–50 cm × 1–3.5 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, terete or ± 4-angled, 30–50 cm × 1–3.5 mm.

persistent, nodding, becoming erect, ± loose, 9–40-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 2–4-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

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

spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 3–5-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex long-acuminate.

stellate, 5–8 mm;

tepals spreading, deep pink, elliptic-lanceolate, ± equal, withering in fruit, margins entire, apex acute, midribs not thickened;

stamens exserted;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary conspicuously crested;

processes 6, distinct, flattened, ± triangular, margins entire or toothed;

style exserted, linear, ± equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 0–20 mm.

± stellate, 5–10 mm;

tepals spreading or reflexed, white or pink, lanceolate, ± equal, withering in fruit and exposing capsules, margins entire, apex acute, midrib becoming noticeably thickened;

stamens ± equaling tepals to exserted;

anthers purple;

pollen light yellow;

ovary conspicuously crested;

processes 6, central, usually connate in pairs across septa, ± erect, flattened, to 2 mm, margins lacerate, usually well developed in fruit;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurely lobed;

pedicel 15–25 mm, elongating in fruit.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

coat shining;

cells each with minute, central papilla.

= 14.

= 28.