Flora of North America species comparison

globose to subglobose, to 1–1.5 cm diam.;

outer coats brown;

bulblets absent.

1–4, sheaths enveloping neck of bulb, hyaline, subtruncate apically;

blade filiform or linear, to 30 cm × 1–4(–5) mm, margins entire.

solitary (rarely 2), terete, (10–)20–40 cm × 1–3 mm.

mostly 3–6(–10)-flowered, often asymmetrical, 1–3 cm diam.;

bracts persistent, 2, 1–2 cm × 4–8 mm, base coherent, imbricate, margins scarious or hyaline, apex acuminate.

not fragrant;

tepals whitish to cream, at least outer ones with red or purplish red midvein, elliptic, (8–)10–12(–15) × 3–4.5 mm, apex acute or acuminate;

filaments simple, adnate to tepals, 5–6 mm;

anthers yellow;

ovary crestless;

style persistent, equaling stamens;

stigma unlobed, 3/4 perianth;

pedicel erect, 1–2 cm, elongating as flowers develop, but often of several lengths even in fruit.

subglobose or obovoid, 6–8 × 6–8 mm.

4–7 per locule.