Flora of North America species comparison

ovoid, 1.5–2.5 × 1–2 cm, offsets absent, tunics translucent to pale brown.

2–4(–5);

blade prominently ribbed, linear-spatulate, 15–35(–40) cm × 3–8(–12) mm, apex abruptly contracted.

(1–)2–7, basal;

blade linear, sometimes sulcate, glabrous, rather fleshy.

20–35(–40) cm, usually slightly exceeding leaves.

terete.

12–20-flowered.

terminally racemose, many-flowered, dense, bracteate, usually elongating in fruit;

distal flowers smaller, sterile, differing in color, forming a tuft (coma);

bracts minute.

perianth tube sky blue, globose to ovoid, 2–4 × 2–3 mm, teeth white;

fertile and sterile flowers ± equal (sterile may be slightly smaller and paler);

pedicel spreading, 1–3(–5) mm.

fragrant;

perianth tubular to urceolate, usually constricted basally;

tepals 6, connate most of their length, distal portions distinct, reflexed, short, toothlike;

stamens 6, epitepalous, in 2 rows, included;

anthers dark blue, dorsifixed, globose;

ovary superior, green, 3-locular, inner sepal nectaries present;

style 1;

stigma 3-lobed.

capsular, obtusely 3-angled, papery, dehiscence loculicidal.

4–6 × 4–6 mm.

6, black, globose, wrinkled to reticulate.

= 9.

= 18, 36.