Flora of North America species comparison

to 50 cm; scarious leaf sheaths persistent.

erect, clambering or ascending, branched or not.

alternate, rosulate to distichous, 10–50 × 10–70 cm;

blade glaucous-green to variegated with small white or glaucous dots, irregular bands, or blotches, often reddish near apex or margins, lanceolate to ensate, tapering from base to apex, glabrous, margins green, spiny-toothed, teeth 1–1.5 cm apart.

succulent, crowded, often rosulate or distichous;

blade margins spiny-toothed or entire.

terminal, usually unbranched, racemose, 10–15 dm, usually covered with scalelike bracts;

racemes cylindrical, dense, 0.5 m;

bracts glabrous or puberulent, with 3 prominent purple veins that are confluent at tips.

axillary or terminal, paniculate to more often racemose, dense, bracteate.

perianth yellow;

tepals prominently 3-veined, connate basally for 1/2 their length, lobes broadly linear to oblong-lanceolate, apex rounded;

stamens 6, included to slightly exserted, slightly unequal;

filaments 2–2.5 cm;

anthers 2.5–4 mm;

style usually exserted;

stigmas not expanded;

pedicel 2.2–3.3 cm.

usually nodding;

perianth red to yellow;

tepals connate basally to almost entirely into tube;

stamens 3 or 6;

style slender;

pedicel not articulate.

somewhat elongate.

papery to woody.

= 7.

= 14.