Flora of North America species comparison

1–3+, not rhizomatous, without basal bulbels, ovoid, 1.2–2.5 × 1–2 cm;

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

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

1–3, increase bulbs absent and ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, ovoid to ± globose, 0.8–1.2 × 0.8–1.2 cm;

outer coats enclosing 1 or more bulbs, brown, prominently cellular-reticulate, membranous, cells arranged in ± vertical rows, forming distinct herringbone pattern, transversely elongate, V-shaped, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells obscure, arranged in vertical rows, forming distinct herringbone pattern or ± quadrate, V-shaped.

persistent, green at anthesis, 2, sheathing;

blade solid, ± straight, channeled, semiterete, 10–40 cm × 1–3(–5) mm, margins entire or denticulate.

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

blade solid, subterete, channeled, 13–35 cm × 1–4 mm, margins entire.

persistent, solitary, erect, ± terete, 5–30(–40) cm × 1–3 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 1.5–4 cm × 2–3 mm.

persistent, erect, compact to ± loose, 15–30-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 3, usually 1-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

shattering after seeds mature, each flower deciduous with its pedicel as a unit, erect, compact, 10–40-flowered, hemispheric to globose, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2–3, 5–6-veined, lance-ovate to ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

urceolate to campanulate, 5–7 mm;

tepals erect, white or rarely pink, with red or reddish brown midribs;

outer whorl broadly ovate to lanceolate, unequal, becoming callous-keeled and permanently investing capsule, margins often obscurely toothed apically, apex obtuse to acuminate;

inner whorl narrower, margins entire, apex distinctly spreading;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary ± conspicuously crested;

processes 6, central, distinct or connate in pairs across septa, ± erect, rounded, to 1 mm, margins entire, becoming variously developed or obsolete in fruit;

style linear, equaling filaments;

stigma capitate, unlobed or obscurely lobed;

pedicel 5–20 mm.

urceolate to campanulate, 8–11 mm;

tepals erect, pink, lanceolate to lance-ovate, unequal, inner shorter and narrower than outer, becoming papery and connivent over capsule, margins entire, apex acute;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

processes 3, central, 2-lobed, minute, margins entire;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, 3-lobed;

pedicel 7–15 mm.

coat shining;

cells ± smooth, without central papillae.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

= 14, 28.

= 14.