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.

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.

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

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

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, ± solid, terete, 18–60 cm × 2–3 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, compact, 18–190-flowered, hemispheric to globose, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 4, 3-veined, ovate, ± 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.

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.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

= 14.