Flora of North America species comparison

ascending, to 1 m.

2-ranked, gradually reduced toward ends of flowering stems;

blade ovate to lanceolate or lanceolate-oblong, 1–3.5 × 0.6–1 cm (distal leaf blades much narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), margins scabrid, apex acute, glabrous.

spirally arranged;

blade oblong to lanceolate-oblong, 15–30 × 2.5–5cm (distal leaf blades much narrower than sheaths when sheaths opened, flattened), apex acuminate, glabrous.

sessile in axils of distal leaves of flowering stems, composed of pairs of sessile cymes (sometimes reduced to single cymes).

terminal, panicles to 30 cm or longer.

bisexual and pistillate, odorless, subsessile;

petals inconspicuous, white, lanceolate, 3–6 mm;

stamens 0–6, long-exserted;

filaments glabrous;

ovary 2-locular, stigma penicillate.

fragrant, subsessile;

petals white, lanceolate, 6 mm;

stamens 6, long-exserted, connectives white, broad, flaglike;

filaments glabrous;

ovary 3-locular, stigma penicillate.

2-locular.

3-locular.

1 mm.