Flora of North America species comparison

rhizomes present.

decumbent to scandent.

erect to ascending, to 1 m.

blade narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, lanceolate-elliptic or ovate, 1.5–14 × 0.5–3.3 cm, margins scabrous, apex acute to acuminate, glabrous.

spirally arranged;

leaf sheaths with red hairs at summit;

blade lanceolate-elliptic to lanceolate-oblong, 6–20 × 1–5 cm, apex acuminate.

distal cyme 1–several-flowered, usually exserted;

spathes solitary, bright green, without contrasting veins, pedunculate, usually distinctly falcate, (0.5–)0.8–4 × 0.4–1.2(–1.4) cm, margins distinct, glabrous or scabrous, sometimes also sparsely ciliate or ciliolate basally, apex usually acuminate, usually glabrous or nearly so;

peduncles 0.5–2(–4) cm.

distal cyme vestigial, included (very rarely 1-flowered and exserted);

spathes clustered, subsessile, funnelform, 1.5–3.5 × 1.2–2 cm, margins connate basally, glabrous (rarely puberulent).

bisexual and staminate;

petals all blue (rarely all lavender), proximal petal smaller;

medial stamen anther connective usually with transverse band of violet;

staminodes 2–3;

antherodes yellow, medial often absent or vestigial, cruciform.

bisexual (rarely staminate);

petals all pale blue, proximal one smaller;

staminodes 3;

antherodes entirely yellow, cruciform.

3-locular, 2-valved, 4–6.3 mm.

3-locular, 2-valved, (5.5–)6–9 × 3–6 mm.

5 (or less through abortion), brown, 2–2.8(–3.2) × 1.4–1.8 mm, deeply reticulate.

5, brown, (2.4–)3–5(–6) × 2.4–3.1 mm, smooth with a few, shallow, irregular depressions, farinose.

= 30.