Flora of North America species comparison

subrhizomatous to ± ovoid, 2.7–10 × 4.4–13.4 cm, 0.2–0.9(–1.4) times taller than long;

scales unsegmented or notched with 2(–3) poorly defined segments, sometimes 2-segmented, longest 3.3–11.9 cm;

stem roots absent.

rhizomatous, often branching dichotomously at 120° from main axis, 2.4–4.3 × 6–10.2 cm, 0.2–0.6 times taller than long, 2(–3) years’ growth evident as annual bulbs, the scaleless sections between these 0.6–3.8(–4.6) cm;

scales 1–2-segmented (if 2-segmented, often only on inner scales), longest 1.2–3.9 cm;

stem roots present or absent.

to 2 m, often glaucous.

1.2–2.8 m.

rounded in cross section.

± triangular in cross section.

in 1–8 whorls or partial whorls, 3–16 leaves per whorl, horizontal and drooping at tips to ascending, occasionally nearly clasping stem, 3.7–12.3 × 0.9–4.7 cm, 2–6.5 times longer than wide;

blade oblanceolate, sometimes obovate, rarely elliptic, margins undulate or not, apex acute, often widely so;

veins and margins ± smooth abaxially.

usually ± evenly distributed along stem, in 6–24 whorls or partial whorls, 3–20 leaves per whorl, usually ± horizontal and drooping at tips, distal leaves ascending in sun, 7.1–26.1 × 0.7–2.7 cm, 4–18 times longer than wide;

blade narrowly elliptic, sometimes extremely so, occasionally barely oblanceolate, margins not undulate, apex acute, acuminate in distal leaves;

veins and margins ± smooth abaxially.

racemose, 1–33-flowered.

racemose, 1–22-flowered.

opening before dusk, ± horizontal, slightly bilaterally symmetric, strongly fragrant;

perianth ± funnelform;

sepals and petals recurved 2/3–3/4 along length from base and scarcely overlapping to form tube, lower usually less recurved than upper and forming landing platform, white, often aging deep pink or lavender, often with short yellowish stripe extending from basal median nectaries, often with fine magenta spots concentrated basally, not distinctly clawed;

sepals sometimes purplish abaxially, not ridged abaxially, (6.1–)6.7–11.3 × 0.9–1.7 cm;

petals noticeably wider than sepals, oblanceolate and often very wide distally, (6.1–)6.6–11.2 × 1.1–2.4 cm, apex widely acute, obtuse, or rounded;

stamens barely exserted;

filaments barely spreading, diverging 2°–8° from axis;

anthers off white or cream, becoming pale pink or yellow, 0.8–1.5 cm;

pollen yellow or cream;

pistil 7.5–10.4 cm;

ovary 1.7–3.4 cm;

style pale green;

pedicel 4.8–15 cm.

pendent, not fragrant;

perianth Turk’s-cap-shaped;

sepals and petals reflexed less than 1/5 along length from base, yellow or sometimes yellow-orange proximally, red-orange or sometimes red, red-purple, orange, or yellow barely suffused with red distally, spotted magenta, not distinctly clawed, nectaries exposed, forming visible green star;

sepals with 2 parallel, often faint abaxial ridges, 6.8–10.5 × 1.1–2.1 cm;

petals 7–10.2 × 1.4–2.6 cm;

stamens strongly exserted;

filaments parallel along much or most of length, then widely spreading, diverging (7°–)11°–30° from axis;

anthers magenta, occasionally purple or dull purple, 1.4–2.6 cm;

pollen rust;

pistil 4.7–8.2 cm;

ovary 1.5–3.4 cm;

style pale green, often spotted purple;

pedicel 7.4–19.1 cm.

often with 6 longitudinal ridges, 2.7–5.8 × 1.6–2.9 cm, 1.3–2.3 times longer than wide.

2.9–6.2 × 1.7–2.5 cm, 1.7–3.3 times longer than wide.

123–231.

not counted.

= 24.