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.

superficial or very shallow, cordlike portion 1–2 dm × 2 mm, expanding to 10–15 mm diam., nodes with brown, scalelike leaves and few to no roots.

simple, solid, almost absent or to 2.5 dm.

1–2-branched, 3–3.2 dm.

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 pale green, 3.2 dm × 1.5 cm, margins scarious basally, apex acute, proximal 2 semi- sheathing, blade 5 cm, scarious;

cauline 1–2, sheathing branch and stem for ca. 1/2 their length, blade ca. 5 cm, semimembranous.

(1–)2-flowered;

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

2–3-branched, each unit with single flower, all borne at approximately the same level;

spathes 2–3 cm × 5 mm, subequal, scarious except basally and along midrib.

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 white or blue tinged with deep violet lines;

floral tube funnelform, 0.3 cm;

sepals oblong-spatulate, 2.8 × 1 cm, apex deeply emarginate, signal an inconspicuous crest with low, yellow, undissected ridge;

petals bluish white, oblanceolate-spatulate, base gradually attenuate into claw;

ovary elliptical, 0.4–0.7 cm;

style 1.8 cm, crests broadly obovate, 0.7 cm, margins erose;

stigmas triangular-acuminate, margins entire;

pedicel 0.4–1 cm, not lifting flower clear of spathes.

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

depressed-globose, roundly triangular, 0.9–1.5 × 1.2 cm.

dark brown, angular, finely wrinkled.

pale brown, with whitish raphe, D-shaped, pitted.

= 40.

= 28.