Flora of North America species comparison

freely branching, forming large colonies, slender, 0.8–0.9 cm diam., covered with remains of old leaves;

roots fibrous.

sparingly short-branched, forming dense clumps, 1–1.5 cm diam., hard, with old leaf bases at nodes;

roots fleshy.

1–4-branched, solid, 1.5–7 dm.

slightly flattened, with 1–2 short branches, solid, 4–12 dm.

basal with blade yellow-green, occasionally darker green, sometimes flushed pink or red basally, prominently ribbed, linear, 4.5–10 dm × 2 cm, apex acute;

cauline 1–3, reduced.

basal erect, blade with slight spiral twist and central ridge, 3.5–8 dm × 1–2 cm, stiff, harsh, fibrous, glaucous;

cauline 2–3, 1–2 subtending floral clusters, blade reduced.

(2–)3-flowered, branch units 2–3-flowered;

spathes opposite or separated, divergent, green, sometimes flushed purple basally, lanceolate-acuminate, 6–12 cm × 7–12 mm.

clustered, 2–4-flowered;

spathes white, 3–5 cm, subequal, papery.

perianth deep red-purple, lavender, gray-blue, cream, or white, with gold signal and blue or purple veins;

floral tube 1.5–2.8 cm, usually widening to bowl shape at base of flower;

sepals oblanceolate to obovate, 5–9 × 1.4–3 cm, base gradually attenuate, apex obtusely rounded;

petals oblanceolate, 4.5–7 × 0.9–1.8 cm, base attenuate to narrow claw;

ovary elliptic-oval, sharply triangular in cross section, 3–4 cm;

style 1.7–3.5 cm;

crests overlapping, subquadrate, 1–2 cm, margins coarsely toothed;

stigmas triangular;

pedicel 2–5 cm.

perianth white;

floral tube funnelform, 1–2.5 cm;

sepals spreading and arching downward, with large yellow basal area, broadly orbicular, 8–10 × 3–6 cm, apex rounded, deeply emarginate;

petals white, spatulate, 4–6 × 1–1.5 cm, base gradually attenuate, apex emarginate;

ovary triangular in cross section with 2 ribs at each angle, 2–2.5 cm;

style white, with parallel sides, 4–5 cm, crests erect, triangular, 1–2 cm;

stigmas 2-lobed;

pedicel 2.5–7.5 cm.

sharply triangular in cross section with ridge at each angle, tapering at both ends, remnant of floral tube forming tip at apex, 2.5–5 cm.

ovoid to oblong-elliptic, triangular in cross section, each angle 2-ribbed, 4–5 × 2–2.5 cm.

dark brown, pyriform, wrinkled.

in 2 rows per locule, white, flattened or wedge-shaped, 4–5 mm, papery, wrinkled.

= 40.

= 40.