Flora of North America species comparison

many-branched, forming tufts, with fibrous remains of old leaves at nodes, slender, 0.6–0.8 cm diam.;

roots few, fibrous.

many-branched, producing dense clumps, 3–6 × 1.5–2 cm, covered with remnants of old leaves.

simple, solid, almost absent or to 2.5 dm.

1–2-branched, 1.5–9 dm, exceeding leaves;

branches 1.25–1.5 dm proximal to terminal, but bearing flowers on nearly the same level.

basal longer than stem, blade light green, finely veined, narrowly linear, 3–4 dm × 0.4–0.6 cm, glaucous, margins not thickened, apex acute;

cauline 1–2, spreading, sheathing for about 1/2 length, foliaceous, blade not inflated, 0.7–1 dm.

basal with blade green with purple tinge basally, prominently ribbed, ensiform, 0.2–0.45 dm × 1–2 cm, ± glaucous distally;

cauline subtending each lateral branch, blade reduced, 0.5–1.5 dm.

(1–)2-flowered;

spathes nearly opposite, connivent, linear-lanceolate, 4–9.5 cm × 4–6 mm, subequal or outer longer.

2–3-flowered, lateral units usually 2-flowered;

spathes green flushed with purple, foliaceous, ovate-lanceolate, 2.5–4.5 cm × 5–7 mm, unequal, inner longer than outer, sometimes scarious.

perianth indigo, purple, lavender, white, cream, or yellow;

floral tube linear, gradually dilating apically, 6 cm;

sepals usually with fine, dark veins basally, becoming coarser on claw, oblanceolate or obovate, 3.9–7 × 2 cm, base abruptly attenuate into claw;

petals oblanceolate, 3.5–6 × 0.5–1.6 cm, base gradually attenuate;

ovary ovoid, ca. 1 cm;

style 2–3.5 cm, crests overlapping, reflexed, semiovate, 0.8–1.8 cm, margins denticulate;

stigmas triangular, margins entire;

pedicel 1.5–2 cm.

perianth dark blue-violet to red-purple with darker veins;

floral tube ca. 0.7 cm;

sepals 4–6 × 3–5 cm, glabrous, base abruptly attenuate to broad claw with undulate margins;

petals much reduced, 1–2 × 0.3–0.4 cm, widest basally, mostly hidden by bases of outer sepals, apex acuminate, with 3–8 mm bristle;

ovary conspicuously 3-angled, inflated at anthesis, 1.3 cm;

style 2.5 cm, crests overlapping, subquadrate, 0.7 cm, margins incised;

stigmas semicircular, margins entire;

pedicel 2.5–4.5 cm, ± equaling spathes.

oblong to ovoid, somewhat 3-angled in cross section, 2.5–3 cm.

roundly trigonal, 2.5 × 1.3–1.5 cm.

dark brown, angular, finely wrinkled.

in 2 rows per locule, light brown, with prominent raphe, D-shaped, 2–3 mm, very smooth.

= 40.

= 34, 36, 38.