Flora of North America species comparison

solitary, replaced annually by new bulbs borne terminally on secondary rhizome;

rhizomes 1–3, conspicuous, to 5 cm, smooth;

parent bulbs disappearing by anthesis except for still-functional roots and bulb coat, ovoid to oblique-ovoid, 1–2 × 0.8–1.5 cm;

outer coats not enclosing bulbs, pale brown, delicately cellular-reticulate, membranous, cells ± rectangular, without fibers;

inner coats white, cells obscure, ± transversely elongate, contorted.

usually solitary, not clustered on stout, primary rhizomes, ovoid, 1.3–2 × 1.4–2 cm;

outer coats enclosing single bulb, dark reddish brown, membranous, lacking cellular reticulation or cells arranged in only 2–3 rows distal to roots, ± quadrate, without fibers;

inner coats light brown, cells obscure, quadrate.

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

blade solid, flattened, sometimes carinate abaxially, ± falcate, 18–50 cm × 4–10 mm, margins entire.

persistent, withering from tip by anthesis, 1, basally sheathing, sheath not extending much above soil surface;

blade solid, terete, 30–55 cm × 2–4 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 20–80 cm × 2–7 mm.

persistent, solitary, erect, solid, terete, 25–50 cm × 2–4 mm.

persistent, erect, loose, 15–35-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, 2, 6–8-veined, lance-ovate to broadly ovate, ± equal, apex acuminate.

persistent, erect, compact, 20–60-flowered, hemispheric, bulbils unknown;

spathe bracts persistent, usually 3, 7–8-veined, ovate, ± equal, apex attenuate.

stellate, 11–15 mm;

tepals spreading, bright pink or rarely white, obovate to ovate, unequal, becoming papery and connivent over capsule, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse or emarginate, inner shorter and narrower than outer;

stamens included;

anthers yellow or purple;

pollen yellow or gray;

ovary crestless, 3-grooved, with thickened ridge on either side of groove;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, scarcely thickened, unlobed or obscurely 3-lobed;

pedicel 15–40 mm.

saucer-shaped, 6–8 mm;

tepals spreading from base, white or flushed with pink, broadly ovate, ± equal, becoming papery in fruit, margins entire, apex obtuse to nearly round, not recurved at tip;

stamens included;

anthers yellow;

pollen yellow;

ovary crested;

processes 6, prominent, ± triangular, margins laciniate;

style linear, equaling stamens;

stigma capitate, 3-lobed, lobes slender, recurved;

pedicel 7–20 mm.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

coat dull;

cells minutely roughened.

= 14.

= 14.