Flora of North America species comparison

5–20+, not clustered on stout primary rhizome, rhizomes absent, increase bulbs absent or ± equaling parent bulbs, never appearing as basal cluster, ovoid, 1–2 × 1–2 cm;

outer coats enclosing renewal bulbs, ± translucent, yellow-brown, obscurely cellular-reticulate, thin, membranous, meshes delicate, cells vertically elongate, contorted, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells obscure, quadrate, or not visible.

1–3+, variable, some with poorly developed bulbs, others ovoid with 1–2 large bulbs and several yellowish to light brown bulbels at base, 0.4–1(–3) × 0.4–1(–1.5) cm;

outer coat enclosing 1 or more bulbs, yellowish, membranous;

inner coats white to light brown, cells not evident, fibers ± parallel, few.

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

blade solid, flat, not falcate, ± carinate, 15–50 cm × 3–15 mm, margins entire.

withering from tips by anthesis, 6–9, sheathing 1/3–1/2 scape;

blade solid, flat, channeled, 1–5 cm × 2–20(–30) mm, margins scabrid.

persistent, clustered, 1–4, erect, solid, sharply 3-angled, 10–40 cm × 1–10 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, fistulose, terete, 45–180 cm × 3–7 mm.

persistent, lax, loose, 3–15-flowered, ± 1-sided, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 1–2, 3-veined, narrowly lanceolate, ± equal, apex acute.

persistent, erect, compact, to 500-flowered, few-flowered in variants with bulbils, globose;

spathe bracts persistent, 3–5, 2–3-veined, lanceolate, ± equal, apex abruptly narrowed to beak, beak to 10 cm.

becoming pendent, campanulate, 10–18 mm;

tepals erect to spreading, white with prominent green midrib, lanceolate, ± equal, becoming membranous in fruit, margins entire, apex acute;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crestless;

style linear, ± equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 15–25 mm.

urceolate, 4–5.5 mm;

tepals erect, white, pink, or dark red, unequal, becoming papery and investing capsule in fruit;

outer tepal oblong-lanceolate, margins entire, apex obtuse, sometimes mucronate;

inner tepal narrowly ovate to spatulate, margins entire, apex obtuse;

stamens equaling perianth or exserted;

outer filaments simple, inner with 2 prominent lateral teeth that exceed anther-bearing portion, glabrous;

anthers yellow or purple;

pollen yellow;

ovary crestless;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed;

pedicel 15–50 mm.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

coat not known.

= 18.