Flora of North America species comparison

in general appearance very similar to some species of Allium, without alliaceous odor;

outer coats membranous.

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

outer coats brown;

bulblets absent.

usually present at flowering time, basal, imbricate, sheathing basally;

blade filiform to linear.

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.

umbellate, subtended by spathe bracts;

bracts 2, membranous.

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.

fastigiate, withering-persistent;

tepals 6, 2-whorled, connate proximal 1/3, 1-veined, subequal;

stamens 6, adnate to tepal bases, included;

filaments distinct, ± dilated basally, subulate and entire apically;

anthers dorsifixed, oblong, introse;

ovary superior, sessile, 3-locular;

ovules several(–12);

style filiform;

stigma terminal, small.

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.

capsular, 3-lobed, membranous, dehiscence loculicidal.

subglobose or obovoid, 6–8 × 6–8 mm.

black, angled [compressed or almost flat].

4–7 per locule.